Gold Coast Suns coach Stuart Dew focusing on clash with Port Adelaide rather than his own future

Stuart Dew has the support of Gold Coast Suns chief executive officer Mark Evans – for now.

Suns coach Stuart Dew says he isn’t ‘looking for sympathy’. Picture: Chris Hyde/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Suns chief executive Mark Evans has stopped short of guaranteeing Stuart Dew will be Gold Coast coach beyond this season but claims he never approached Damien Hardwick about the position.

Premiership-winning mentor Hardwick has again been linked with the Suns’ coaching job after Dew’s team suffered an embarrassing 78-point weekend home loss to Collingwood.

However, Evans on Wednesday said he had “absolutely not” spoken to Hardwick about the job and supported Dew, who is contracted until the end of next season.

“I’ve said time and time again Stuey is our coach, contracted for this year and next year,” Evans said

“If he does a good job, he’ll be contracted well into the future. He’s got my support to go and get on with the job.”

However, when asked if he would still support Dew if the 12th-placed Suns kept losing matches, Evans said: “Come back and ask me if the results don’t come, but for right now, let’s do everything we can to make sure the results can be as good as they can.”

Dew, who on Tuesday told News Corp Australia he was extremely disappointed with claims from Channel 9’s Caroline Wilson that he would be sacked within a month, said he “wasn’t looking for sympathy”.

Pressure is mounting on Suns coach Stuart Dew. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“I’ve never made it about myself and I don’t intend to going forward,” the Suns coach said.

“My job is about preparing the players and the staff for a good performance this week (against Port Adelaide) and beyond.

“I’m really clear where I sit … but I understand the industry looks at performance. We’re in a performance industry.

“I wasn’t looking for sympathy and I won’t. I’ll get on with my job because I love it.”

Despite being disappointed with his side’s heavy loss to the league-leading Magpies, Dew said he felt greater discontent after watching his team lose by 10 points to Fremantle at Norwood Oval during April’s Gather Round in Adelaide.

“We got beaten by a quality football side that’s number one. Where we happy with it? No, but in terms of my disappointment post-game, I’d say (there) was far greater disappointment with that Fremantle game that we let slip.

“I don’t think we were ever in that game (against the Magpies). We let the opportunity slip, but we didn’t let the result slip.

“I get more disappointed when we’re in control and we don’t take the opportunity.”

Dew was hopeful co-captain Touk Miller would make his return on Saturday at the Adelaide Oval from a long-term knee injury.

“We’re pretty keen to get him straight in.” Dew said.