Port Adelaide chairman David Koch hopes Ken Hinkley can be the Power's senior coach for another decade as the limelight continues to be set on the future of the club and its long-standing mentor.
In his 11th year with the Power, Hinkley's current contract will reach its end at the conclusion of this season, with Koch having made it clear from the pre-season that any decision would be made no earlier than August.
Hinkley is yet to take the Alberton club to a grand final in his time in charge, while 2022 presented as an equal-worst campaign for the former Geelong defender as the Power recorded 10 wins and failed to make finals.
The Power are humming under Hinkley in 2023, likely moving to 10-2 after Saturday's clash against Hawthorn, prompting many to believe the 56-year-old is the best man for the job moving forward.
While Koch himself has decided to step away from his duties with Seven Network program Sunrise after 21 years, the Port chairman holds hopes Hinkley's reign can last as long, but understands the decision won't solely rely on the club's thinking come August.
"Footy clubs are really complex organisations. There's so much emotion, there's so much passion. The challenge for a president and a board is to look at the whole thing objectively," Koch told 3AW on Saturday.
"You assess the coach on a whole number of levels. We're in a performance industry. The word 'rebuild' is banned at our place, because it's an excuse for failure. We constantly want to be competitive.
"We're desperate to win a flag, I'm desperate for Ken to win one, he deserves one.
"... You look at great sports organisations around the world, the great ones always have stability. They have stability in executives, board, coaches.
"I hope Ken is a 20-year coach for Port Adelaide, but we are in a performance situation, and it depends on Ken as well.
"There is a time, just like I decided to step away from Sunrise, like Damien Hardwick decided to step away from Richmond. It's not just me making the decision, it's Ken as well.
"That's why we decided to keep any discussions until later in the year when we are in a clear head space and when he and the football department are given clear air to focus on success and what they are doing.
"After Round 3 a lot of people criticised us for that. We stuck with the plan, and at this stage I am pretty happy with the way it has turned out."
Hinkley's position at Port Adelaide gained further attention last week in the wake of Damien Hardwick's resignation from Richmond, with the Power premiership player floated as a potential target for the South Australian club to call on as a successor to Hinkley.
Hinkley has won 140 games from his 234 matches in charge of the Power prior to Saturday's clash with Hawthorn.
