Williams coached the Power for the last time against Collingwood at AAMI Stadium on Friday night, following a whirlwind 24 hours that saw him part ways with the club he served for over a decade.
Former North Melbourne and current assistant coach Dean Laidley is the best-credentialled candidate, but it remains to be seen whether he is willing to return to the spotlight as a senior coach.
Midfield coach Matthew Primus has also been mentioned as a potential successor.
Rohde said the club’s hierarchy would meet over the weekend to come up with a plan for the remaining seven weeks of the season.
“There’s no doubt that over the weekend we’ve got a bit of work to do. We’ve got a short-term issue in who is going to coach the team between now and the end of the year, and obviously who is going to take the club forward,” Rohde said.
“We intentionally didn’t discuss it [the senior coaching position] at all with the assistant coaches up until now because we thought it was very important to get through tonight, but come Monday we’ve got to walk in again and we’ve got seven weeks to go.
“We need to make sure the next seven weeks are handled very professionally and that things move along in the right direction. We see a lot of our assistant coaches and we know a lot about them. I’m sure someone will be the interim coach and we’ll talk about that tomorrow.
“There’s no doubt when we come to pick a coach for beyond 2010 we’ll be looking outside the club as well. We’ve got a big task to make the right decision.”
Williams soaked up the occasion on Friday night, spending significant time on the ground prior to the game but made a swift exit after addressing his shattered players following the brave 26-point loss.
Rohde admitted Williams’ decision to walk away had blindsided everyone at Alberton, but he said the 2004 premiership coach would leave a lasting impression.
“When I pulled out of the driveway this morning I certainly didn’t think I’d be standing here doing this tonight. That’s what happens," he said.
"It’s a very tough industry and I think that everyone around our club has understood today more than ever before how it’s a performance industry,” Rohde said.
“I think Mark did himself very proud this afternoon. He left with some very good messages about watching their careers and certainly left the place not bitter and twisted. It’s a tough gig and there are a few of us that have been through it. He handled it as well as anyone as well as I’ve ever seen.
"He said as he left that he was hoping they’d win a premiership soon and that he would be the first one to congratulate them all and I think it’s the mark of the man.”
Veteran Josh Carr was brought into the side from outside the emergency list, after demanding to play in Williams’ last game as coach.
However, the premiership player doused speculation he had played his last game for the club.
