LAUNCESTON, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 28: Alastair Clarkson, Senior Coach of the Hawks looks on during the 2018 AFL round six match between the Hawthorn Hawks and the St Kilda Saints at UTAS Stadium on April 28, 2018 in Launceston, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media/Getty Images)

With Alastair Clarkson confirmed to be out of the running for the Blues job, there has been conjecture surrounding the exact steps the club were willing to take to get the former Hawthorn coach.

Clarkson, who won four flags with the Hawks in 2008, 2013, 2014 and 2015, has stated on multiple occasions that his wishes were to take a year off in 2022 to rest after so many years in the hot seat.

Last night on AFL 360, Clarkson once again affirmed his stance on the Carlton coaching job.

"I'm sticking to what I said six or eight weeks ago that I need a spell," Clarkson said on Monday evening.

"My family and I had always looked at the end of next year as being the time when we make the decisions on what we do."

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However, only minutes later on Footy Classified, veteran journalist Caroline Wilson revealed that the Carlton board were prepared to front up with a mammoth offer for Clarkson that would have exceeded their soft cap.

“The Carlton board in recent weeks had met and agreed as a group to pay whatever luxury tax it was going to cost to get Alastair Clarkson and whichever assistants he brought in,” Wilson said on Monday night.

“Clearly that would be exceeding the footy department soft cap or probably doing so and that some wealthy directors – potentially even the outgoing Jeanne Pratt – would’ve been prepared to help out to pay that luxury tax.”

The Blues have been criticised by many over the past few months for their handling of club matters, namely coach David Teague's sacking, with the club's disjointed approach leaving Teague in the lurch for some time.

AFL Rd 6 - Carlton v Brisbane
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 24: Senior coach David Teague of the Blues looks on during the 2021 AFL Round 06 match between the Carlton Blues and the Brisbane Lions at Marvel Stadium on April 24, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Moreover, the search for his successor has been a laborious one with the likes of Ross Lyon, Brad Scott and Clarkson rejecting advances from the club's board to take on the role.

The Carlton board too has been in turmoil for a period of time, with CEO Cain Liddle leaving the job only two weeks ago and ex-Cats head Brian Cook coming in to fill the role amongst other changes.

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Although Clarkson has rejected the approach for now, all eyes will be on him come the pointy end of 2022, with coaches that are under pressure sure to be sweating even more as club's salivate at the idea of having the four-time premiership coach at the helm.

For now, however, the Carlton job is by all accounts set to be filled by Power assistant and ex-Lions coach Michael Voss, with Richmond's Adam Kingsley and Bomber assistant Daniel Giansiracusa narrowly being beaten out by the Brisbane great.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 13: Michael Voss midfield manager of the Power looks on during the round 21 AFL match between Port Adelaide Power and the Collingwood Magpies at Adelaide Oval on August 13, 2017 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)

Still, there is no doubt that whoever takes the job is set to have arguably the biggest task in footy in the form of taking the side back to the promised land, with the Carlton faithful often furious at the handling of the club in recent times.

An official announcement surrounding Voss' future at Carlton has yet to be released by the club.