Brisbane coach Chris Fagan has confirmed he's been made "aware" of a report suggesting he and North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson are reluctant to be part of a meditation process with the complainants of the Hawthorn racism investigation, stating he has "not said those words to anybody" amid the ongoing investigation.
Seven months on from the harrowing allegations and an end to the investigation looks no closer, with the AFL's independent four-person panel continuing a thorough dive into the claims.
Both Fagan and Clarkson have refuted the allegations made against them and have previously stated they will look to assist the league and the panel to seek a conclusion.
On Monday a report from theย Herald Sunย claimed both coaches were reluctant to take part in mediation talks in a bid to potentially find a solution without the presence of lawyers.
When questioned on the report onย AFL 360,ย Fagan said he was "really keen" to move forward with the process and that any involvement will be "fair and just to all parties", while denying recent discussions with his lawyers.
"I'm aware of that article but I haven't read it," the Lions coach said.
"As you know, I've signed a confidentiality deed and so it's really difficult for me to talk to you about anything to do with the investigation. And if there's a mediation process which is part of that investigation again, I can't really talk about it.
"But (it'd) be fair to say I've not said those words to anybody, that I'm not going to participate in whatever process comes up in the future.
"I'm really keen for this, for us to progress the process, but I do want to make sure that whatever we're involved in is fair and just to all parties.
"But I've had no discussion with my lawyers in the last week or so about mediation processes and whether or not we'll be in them. I just have to leave it at that, that's about all I can say."
Newly appointed AFL CEO-elect Andrew Dillon spoke on the ongoing investigation on Monday, stating the league won't be looking to "cut corners" as it looks to reach an outcome at the "right time".
"It's a complex issue and I feel for everyone who's involved in it," Dillon said.
"What we're going to do is work to get the best and right outcome but it's an independent process. And we have to respect that. Often in these things it's about all getting the process right.
"And what we are not going to do is cut corners or fast-track the process. We are going to get the right outcome and we will get it in the right time."
The four-person panel, led by senior lawyer Bernard Quinn KC alongside Ms Jacqualyn Turfrey, Mr Tim Goodwin and Ms Julie Buxton, was appointed on October 7.
