DESPITE Port Adelaide's disappointing season, coach Mark Williams has given a strong indication that his staff will be retained.

It has been a tough year for the Power after a grand final berth in 2007, entering the split round in 13th place with just four wins.

And last week chief executive John James announced he would leave the club to commence a senior management role in the USA on September 1.

However, Williams suggested the team's slide on the field won't encourage changes to the football department and that football manager Peter Rohde and assistants Adam Kingsley, Jason Cripps, Tony McGuinness and Matthew Primus will continue.

"All of us improve every year without doubt with reviews and talking to other coaches, making sure different people from different backgrounds give you on-the-job training," he said.

"I'd expect our coaching group to be very similar and we'll get better next year."

However, Williams saw his share of departures in a string of promising seasons that began in 2001 and culminated in a premiership in 2004.

"Most of the coaching staff went to bigger jobs," Williams said.

"Dean (Bailey) and Alastair (Clarkson) went on to coach AFL clubs so that's pretty good, (former assistant coach, now Hawthorn development coach) Geoff Morris was here for 10 years so that's not a bad stint."

However, he acknowledged that changes at any organisation can destabilise as much as they refresh, recalling his VFL career with Collingwood and an embryonic Brisbane Lions.

"I was at Collingwood for six years and I think we had five coaches, and then Brisbane there for three years and we had four coaches, so I think stability in clubs is vital," he said.

"If you look at the (Fremantle) Dockers over the years they've had lots and lots of coaches and I don't think it's a good thing for the players or even the character of the club, so I'd like to think you build a coaching group."