THE Port Adelaide Football Club announces that its board has decided not to proceed with an optional third year in the contract of senior coach Matthew Primus.

Primus has accepted the unanimous decision and has chosen not to coach out the remainder of the 2012 season. The club’s longest serving assistant coach Garry Hocking will serve as caretaker coach.

Further, Brett Duncanson is standing down from his position as a director and president of the club.

[ Video: Matthew Primus press conference ]

Duncanson will leave his board position at the AGM in December in what he believes are the best interests of the club. He has agreed to see the year out at the request of the board.

The club also confirms it is finalising an exhaustive independent review of its football department and administration, commissioned by chief executive officer Keith Thomas.

Earlier this year, at the initiative of club directors, an external review of the board was carried out by highly respected South Australian businessman David Simmons.

Thomas said the difficult decisions were made in the best interests of the club and its progress towards being a highly competitive AFL force on arrival at Adelaide Oval in 2014.

“Unfortunately, our performances - particularly in the second half of this year - have not demonstrated the rate of progress or consistency that we expected,” Thomas said.

“Both Brett and Matthew have made enormous contributions to Port Adelaide over a very long time and the full benefits of their efforts will be seen in the years to come,” Thomas said.

“I am sure I speak for the entire Port Adelaide community in thanking them for that.

“These men have put their club first and in doing so leave us with an opportunity to build on their work as we shape our football club for the move to Adelaide Oval and beyond.”

Primus said that while he would like to have continued, he accepted the decision.

“I thank the Port Adelaide Football Club for the opportunity to play and to coach,” Primus said.

“It hasn’t worked out the way I wanted. I had a plan to become a successful team and I won’t get the opportunity to see it through.

“I love the club and I love the game, and while I won’t get the opportunity to see that through with Port Adelaide I hope that I will somewhere else.”

Thomas paid tribute to Primus, who was appointed to the role at the end of 2010 after five years as an assistant coach. Primus also played 137 AFL games with Port Adelaide between 1997-2005 and captained the club for five seasons from 2001.

“Matthew Primus is one of Port Adelaide’s finest servants and the way he has approached his coaching career is exactly the way he approached his stellar playing career - as a leader and a man with total commitment,” Thomas said.

President Brett Duncanson thanked Primus for his contribution to Port Adelaide at all levels since joining the club in its inaugural AFL year in 1997.

“Matty is a great person and a great leader who has accepted the challenges and responsibilities of his first coaching role with great passion and commitment,” Duncanson said.

“We appreciate the effort he has made in every role has filled at Port Adelaide.”

Duncanson - who has been president since 2009 - says his decision to stand down provides an opportunity for renewal as the club embraces the opportunities ahead of it.

“I have supported Port Adelaide all my life and it’s been an honour to serve as a director and president,” Duncanson said.

“I am particularly proud of the role I have played in reuniting the club, in making plans for AFL at Adelaide Oval and in reducing the club’s debt.

“But this is a chance for a fresh set of eyes and a new energy as the club enters the most exciting phase in its history.”

Thomas also thanked Duncanson for the legacy he will leave after serving as a director of Port Adelaide’s SANFL division since 1996 and at AFL level from 2005.

“Brett has always had the interests of Port Adelaide at heart and has tirelessly presided over the club at a very difficult time,” Thomas said.

“He has demonstrated unflinching commitment and played a critical role in the One Club reunification and set us on the path to Adelaide Oval, and those decisions are the foundations of our exciting future.”

Thomas said the review of the club’s on and off-field activities had been carried out by highly-regarded individuals with long experience in AFL football.

“The board took a strategic decision to keep the review private until it is complete, but it is now important for everyone to know that our performance has been under review.

“The findings and recommendations will remain confidential for now, but they will guide us towards building a program and a business that will deliver sustained success.

“This football club is filled with good, hard-working people who are passionate and determined to see the club succeed and that is a great basis from which we can grow.”

Port Adelaide will begin the search for its next senior coach immediately.