President Stands Firm
Brett Duncanson has declared he has no reason to step down and dismissed suggestions the club will change its name
PORT Adelaide president Brett Duncanson has vowed to stand firm despite renewed speculation the SA Football Commission won't support his bid for re-election in October.
A report in the Adelaide Advertiser on Monday said the SANFL, the owner of the two AFL licences in SA, was plotting to oust Duncanson from his position, and replace him with SANFL servant and former Port Magpies defender Peter Woite.
The news follows the controversial resignation of chief executive Mark Haysman last month, and the simultaneous departures of board members John Hood and Jane Jeffreys, as well as Darryl Wakelin, who resigned for business reasons.
On Tuesday, Duncanson called a press conference to reaffirm his position, saying he saw "no reason" to relinquish the presidency.
"I'm proudly the president of the Port Adelaide Football Club and I intend to continue in that role," Duncanson said.
"I'll stand [for re-election] at the end of the year and I have no reason to believe they [the SA Football Commission] wouldn't [support me].
"I speak to [SA Football Commission chairman] John Olsen on a range of issues, but I haven't sought his support [on the presidency] because I don't think I need to.
"My election is not an issue that we're dealing with today as far as talking to the SANFL Commission.
"It's a normal process we go through in October-November every year when the SANFL goes through appointments.
"To step down is not what Port Adelaide is about. There's no reason to step down and while I've got the full support of our board [I won't].
"There's no agony for me. I'm focused on the job."
Haysman stood down following speculation the SANFL had also planned to replace him as chief executive.
His resignation came shortly after the AFL and SANFL announced details of a $9 million cash injection into Port Adelaide ahead of the move to Adelaide Oval in 2014-2015.
The agreement, which sees the SANFL control the licences of the Power and the Crows, is being reviewed as part of the AFL's commitment to football in SA with a decision expected in June next year.
There are concerns the ownership model has contributed to both underperforming clubs reporting financial losses last year.
On Monday night, Wakelin accused the SANFL of undermining Port Adelaide, telling SEN the League had an "axe they've been grinding since 1990".
Duncanson refused to be drawn into debate over the apparent decaying state of the relationship between the two parties.
"You can look at it [the relationship] as a disadvantage and as an advantage," he said.
"We've had great support from the SANFL over recent years and there's a relationship there that you would probably argue has been an advantage.
"There's a very strong working relationship between our club and them [the SANFL] to ensure that not only this club, but that football in this state continues to grow."
Duncanson also vehemently denied accusations he'd influenced selection of the team this season, saying it was an "insult" to rookie coach Matthew Primus.
"To think that anyone from senior management or our board would get anywhere near selection or list management … it's simply ludicrous," he said.
"If the board or any senior management are getting involved in selection or any list management that's the beginning of the end of your football department.
"That is simply not the case here at Port Adelaide."
Duncanson said the issue of Kane Cornes' future was also a matter for the football department, but reaffirmed the three-time best and fairest winner was a "contracted player" at the club.
The besieged president also declared the round 24 fixture against Melbourne at Adelaide Oval would go ahead as planned, and dismissed suggestions the Power would drop the 'Port' from their name to broaden the club's appeal.
"We are the Port Adelaide Football Club and nothing will change that," he said.
The "distractions" concerning the club's future, its name, the president and Cornes have added to what has been a disastrous fortnight for the club on the field.
The Power have lost their past two games against Collingwood and Hawthorn by a combined total of 303 points, but Duncanson said he had "enormous faith" in Primus's ability to rebuild the battling team.
"We all go through times. We're doing that on the field, but we're ensuring that going into 2012 Matty has everything he needs to make sure we turn it around quicker," Duncanson said.
"We need to invest in resources, processes and people to ensure that the football department is what Matthew needs to go forward.
"That was difficult to do when we didn’t have transparency in our finances some 12 months ago.
"We're working and probably have been for the last six to eight weeks very aggressively in the market place to make sure we get the right people here, the right processes and go forward as quickly as we can."
Katrina Gill covers Adelaide news for afl.com.au. Follow her on Twitter: @AFL_KatrinaGill