Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has stated he has no "end date" to his tenure at Alberton following further dialogue surrounding a potential coaching succession plan at the Power.

Hinkley, who coached through ongoing speculation over his future last season before recommitting to the club until the end of 2025 in August, has again seen his future emerge at the centre of speculation as intrigue around assistant Josh Carr is rekindled.

Port Adelaide chairman David Koch declined any suggestion that Carr had an understanding from the board that he would succeed Hinkley as senior coach in the future, however the polarising Power boss made note of the club's willingness to hire from within.

"We have extraordinarily high regard for him. He's gone away, he's worked at other organisations, he knows the Port Adelaide way," Koch told theย ABC.

"We put a lot of effort in coaching development. We would rather train up from internally than outside. We have a development coach for our coaches, so we put a lot of resources into it."

Carr's own decision last year to turn down reported interest from Richmond to remain at the club he won a premiership with added to the intrigue, which was stoked again by Koch's comments.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 18: Ollie Wines of the Power talks to Josh Carr, Midfield Coach of the Power during the 2023 AFL Round 01 match between the Port Adelaide Power and the Brisbane Lions at Adelaide Oval on March 18, 2023 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos)

When questioned on the constant conjecture surrounding the top job at Port Adelaide, Hinkley said he would "coach for as long as I possibly can".

"There's no issues at all with my situation, I'm contracted for the next couple of years," the Power coach said.

"I look forward to doing the best I can in those couple of years, then we'll see what happens next.

"I've got a contract for the next two years. I haven't got an end date, if that's what everyone is wanting to know.

"I am going to do my best to coach for as long as I possibly can. I still love what I do."

A two-time AFLCA Coach of the Year winner, Hinkley will enter his 13th season as senior coach next year. He is the longest-serving coach in VFL/AFL history not to reach a grand final.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 23: Power head coach Ken Hinkley walks off at at three quarter time during the round one AFL match between the Melbourne Demons and the Port Adelaide Power at Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 23, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

Hinkley does boast a 59.92% win-rate over his time in the senior coaching role, winning 151 of his 252 matches in charge of the Power.

Should the Power finish in the top eight for the fifth time under Hinkley, the Port Adelaide boss will surpass premiership coach Mark Williams as the club's longest-serving AFL coach.