When it was put to him that supporters wanted to know what was happening now, he responded: “They will know on Sunday.”

Asked if Rutten was coaching his last game for the club on Saturday night, Barham said: “That is to be decided on Sunday.

“I don’t want to talk about that really because ‘Hurls’ [Michael Hurley] is playing his last game. That is a big deal. I want Ben to be able to coach the last game [of the season] and we would really like to win.”

Rutten said on Friday he would coach the team until told otherwise, and he still believed in the direction his side was going in.

“My focus has been on my players and preparing for this week’s game,” Rutten said.

“As I’ve said before, I’m the coach of this footy club and I’ve made a commitment to serve the members and players, and I’m going to continue to do that the best I can until someone tells me otherwise.”

When asked if James Hird was in consideration to coach the club next year, Barham said that hadn’t been discussed, and he didn’t know if Hird was interested in the role.

“I’m not sure what Hirdy has to do with it. No one has spoken to Hirdy,” Barham said. “Does he want to?”

When asked if the board knows what kind of coach the club needs, Barham paused and then deflected his answer to Sunday’s meeting.

“Yeah, that’s part of what’s going to be worked out on Sunday.”

Rutten thanked everyone, including his players and coaches, who had supported him and his family through the week.

“Fundamentally I’ve made a commitment to my football club, the members, supporters and my players to coach them as well and as hard as I can, and I’m not going to let them down now,” Rutten said.

“Now is the time when they need strong leadership, strong direction and I’m going to provide that.”

Rutten said he hadn’t had any contact with Alastair Clarkson this week, and he had received an apology from Barham for not telling him on Monday they would be chasing the former Hawthorn boss.

“I’ve spoken to Dave and he said there were some things if he had his time again, he would do them differently,” Rutten said.

“By him acknowledging it, I think that helps. I don’t think he was entirely pleased with how things have transpired this week, but things have moved quickly.”

Rutten said he didn’t know what to expect on Sunday and would only focus on Saturday night’s game.

He said he wanted Barham to understand the direction of the football program.

“It’s important that he understands what we’re building here and the direction we’re going as a club and I have got a lot of belief in what we’re doing here at the football club and about the football program where we’re going useful,” Rutten said.

“If anything, the way that all the staff, the coaches and the players have conducted themselves this week has strengthened that.

“Some of those things you like to look at is how our people respond under pressure and when the tested, when they’re stretched and the way that footy department has conducted itself has been first class.”

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