HEAR from CEO Keith Thomas about the coach selection process above on PTV. Can't view the video? Watch on YouTube

PORT Adelaide CEO Keith Thomas says there is a compelling argument that the Power should choose an experienced senior coach, but that some recent appointments showed experience wasn't 'essential'.

Thomas will sit on a six-man panel charged with selecting the next coach that also includes former Hawthorn coach Peter Schwab, Geelong premiership captain Tom Harley, the Power's football director Bruce Abernethy, football manager Peter Rohde and deputy chairman Kevin Osborn.

Thomas conceded that departed first-time coach Matthew Primus' failure to deliver success meant a replacement with previous senior coaching experience would be "a comfort".

But he pointed to Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson and Geelong and North Melbourne coaches Chris and Brad Scott as proof that success could be found without it.

"It's a compelling argument, given our most recent experience," Thomas admitted.

"It would need to be an outstanding candidate to be able to handle a role like that - I think experience is important, not necessarily essential.

"We've got a great example across the road in Brenton Sanderson and the Scott boys have walked in and made a go of it.

"But experience brings you some comfort if it's available … it's going to be about who puts their hand up."

The selection panel, to be advised by four-time premiership coach David Parkin, will first meet formally in early- to mid-September and over the next two weeks will regularly discuss the criteria on which the coach will be chosen.

With Schwab and Harley based interstate, talks will be via internet or telephone.

But rather than seeing the difficulties of meeting in person as a hindrance, Thomas said having members of the panel based in Victoria would help the process.

"Whoever we can get in a room, we'll sit them together, or we'll just hook up (via phone)," he said.

"One of the advantages of having guys interstate is they're closer to the bigger market, there are more assistant coaches and coaches in Melbourne than anywhere else.

"Having a couple of guys on the ground there is very handy."

Thomas said the club had already started talking to potential candidates, but that the uncertainty surrounding the club's direction may have prevented anyone from officially declaring their interest.

West Coast assistant Scott Burns said on Sunday that he would happily field a call about the coaching position, but that he'd want to know the Power's plans before he decided whether he'd be interested.

"I'm already in discussions with people who are feeling us out; there's no one who has actually put their hand up at this point," Thomas said.

"Any prospective candidate would want to know what they're walking into and we're very open about that and we see great upside and opportunity - and thankfully most people are agreeing with that."

While he said he remained open-minded about different coaching models, Thomas said the next boss wouldn't be allowed to bring in his own coaching team.

He said he was happy with the way the current group of Shaun Rehn, Brad Gotch, Josh Carr and interim senior coach Garry Hocking had handled their roles.

"I'm not totally open minded about that. I actually have been really pleased with the progress of the group that we brought in at the start of last year. I think they're developing really nicely," Thomas said.

"I don’t subscribe to the fact that the incoming coach dictates what you're doing with the entire structure."

Harry Thring covers Port Adelaide news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Harry.