Melbourne boss Peter Jackson admitted the club could move away from its coaching succession plan come Paul Roos' departure at the end of 2016.
Conceding that the availability of highly regarded coaches, who could include reigning premiership coach Alastair Clarkson, could lead to a policy change, the Demons CEO said his preference remained rebuilding the Melbourne culture from within the club given the task of transforming what had been a "toxic" environment.
"Building from within this football club, which has seen so many changes over the journey, is preferable," said Jackson, shortly after formalising Roos' third year with the Demons.
"You would prefer it if you could have continuity and succession. Up until now, it's been a toxic culture and you don't just fix that in a year by bringing in a couple of good people."
Roos, who returned to senior coaching with a three-year $4.5 million deal with Melbourne, has already started interviewing prospective assistants and is understood to have assured several candidates in recent weeks that he would work with them for a further two seasons.
While Roos told Channel Nine last week that he did not see former Geelong star now media commentator Cameron Ling as part of a succession plan, Jackson said it would be wrong to rule out any candidate.
"Whatever happens we will be appointing a senior assistant coach this year," declared Jackson. "The preferred option remains a succession plan which could take place from the end of 2014 or now from the end of 2015.
"If we are not satisfied with what is available we've got options. So if the situation arose where you could replace good people with people who came out of contract at the end of 2016 then I'm not ruling out anything."
While Roos has committed to the club until the end of 2016 Jackson's future remains unclear. He is contracted until the end of October and on Monday would not be drawn on the subject.
The prevailing view has him staying at Melbourne beyond 2014.
