Gold Coast Suns coach Stuart Dew is close to signing a three-year contract extension according to Fox Sports.
Suns chairman Tony Cochrane revealed the coronavirus pandemic had halted pen being put to paper earlier in the year.
"As far as we are concerned - the board and senior management - as soon as we can get all the paperwork finalised, he will be extended,' Cochrane told foxfooty.com.au.
"I see no reason why we can't get onto it and have it wrapped it up by the end of July as a worst-case scenario."
Cochrane sees Dew as the new foundation of the Suns and wishes the club was in a position to sign him on for longer.
"We have to watch our money closely,' Cochrane said.
"We are not in the fortunate position of other clubs that can commit for four or five years. We won't be able to commit that far in the future but will commit as far as we can into the future.
"CEO Mark Evans, footy boss Jon Haines and me are all really close to him. We are building this football club around Stuey Dew. He's not like a brick in the wall. He's part of the foundation. The players love him.... He's the real deal."
The Suns faced enormous challenges when the coronavirus pandemic shut down the league. These challenges halted contract talks with Dew that were rumoured to be signed, sealed and delivered before Round 1.
"The truth of the matter is we are no different to any other football club," Cochrane said.
"We had big challenges across HR, finance, Metricon Stadium -ย which we run and control 365 days of the year - and we were suddenly hit with a lot of agendas that weren't even vaguely considered to be on our plate this year.
"We asked very kindly of Stuart and his manager that we could just park it all for the moment while we dealt with the immediate problems at hand, particularly related to our staff.
"Stuey completely got that. We will be back onto that ASAP now that things are starting to return to normal."
Cochrane has put no time frame on his own tenure at the club.
"I never put a time frame on it,' he said.
"I have very simple attitude. I've taken on the task which was Herculean. It was tough. But there is no way no way known I'm wincing out and leaving the scene of the crime. I am going to be here until I see success for this club."
