Port Adelaide general manager of football Chris Davies is understood to be out of the race to succeed Steve Hocking for the impending vacancy of the AFL's football operations manager.
As reported by News Corp, Davies is set to remain at Alberton and will not be contending for one of the league's top jobs.
The decision comes after Hocking revealed earlier this month that he will head to Kardinia Park at season's end to take on the chief executive role with the Cats.
The shock news immediately opened up a race to see who would become Hocking's successor, with the AFL understood to be keen on Davies.
Now, with the former SANFL general manger now remaining at Port Adelaide, former North Melbourne coach and head of AFL Victoria Brad Scott now looks to be the leading candidate.
Scott has been closely linked with the football operations manager position after an impressive start to his tenure with the league, while also being tied to the vacant Collingwood senior coaching position.
Scott resigned at the Kangaroos early into the 2019 season and joined the AFL in January last year.
