St Kilda and Essendon express interest in uncontracted Gold Coast midfielder Josh Caddy

OFF-CONTRACT Gold Coast midfielder Josh Caddy is still wrestling with his future, with St Kilda understood to be the frontrunners for his services.

Josh Caddy

OFF-CONTRACT Gold Coast midfielder Josh Caddy is still wrestling with his future, with St Kilda understood to be the frontrunners for his services.

Caddy's management met with the Suns last week, but shoulder surgery early this week could delay a decision.

A number of Victorian-based clubs are interested in the Suns' No.7  pick in the 2010 draft, with St Kilda believed to be ahead of Essendon at this stage.

The NAB Rising Star nominee received a special mention from senior coach Guy McKenna during Saturday night's club champion dinner at Southport for playing through pain in 2012.

"He (Caddy) played with a crook shoulder, long after he should have," McKenna said.

The Gold Coast is now in the market for three assistant coaches, with former Brisbane and Collingwood midfielder Shane O'Bree returning to Melbourne.

O'Bree had been the midfield coach at the Suns for the club's first two seasons, but with his partner expecting their second child they have opted to return closer to family in Victoria.

The Gold Coast will now search for two assistant coaches and one development coach in a  beefed-up football department.

The Suns are understood to have approached dumped Blues mentor Brett Ratten as a possible replacement, but he rejected the offer, preferring to focus on his bid to win the vacant Port Adelaide senior coaching position.

O'Bree will be joined in the Suns' departure lounge by players Michael Coad, Andrew McQualter and Hayden Jolly as well as the retiring Josh Fraser.

The club needs to cut at least another three players from its books to make way for new draft picks and a required list reduction.

Meanwhile, Suns best-and-fairest winner Gary Ablett revealed he had to battle homesickness when he first arrived at the Gold Coast and had some "doubts" about his decision to head north.