Port Adelaide Chairman David Koch has denied reports coach Ken Hinkley was going to leave the club to take the Gold Coast Suns coaching job.
After Koch publicly criticised the club’s performance in their loss to West Coast in the Elimination Final, it was reported his relationship with Hinkley was strained. After the Suns’ coaching job became free, it was reported Hinkley would break his Power contract and head north.
However, Koch says the agreement meant the coach was never going anywhere.
“It is a hypothetical because he was under contract to us for another year,” he told SEN Breakfast.
“That’s the thing most people forget. Despite what everyone was saying, and everyone seemed to have an opinion, Ken still had a contract with us to play out. He was going nowhere.”
The Sunrise host also reaffirmed how Port Adelaide upholds an all-in approach, instead of relying on individuals.
“When we had the board change, the AFL got in contract with me to see if I’d be able to help turn Port Adelaide around,” Koch said.
“This has always been a real group effort and it’s been a passion of mine and Ken Hinkley’s, Keith Thomas’ and Travis Boak’s. I threw myself at the mercy of virtually every club in that first year saying give me your thoughts on what it is about how you should build a successful AFL club.
“The one single thing coming through was the chief executive, captain, coach and president have all got to be on the same page. Like your family, like your friendships, there is always going to be tension if you put pressure on each other for success and we had that. I think it’s really healthy. We are unified on it.”
Hinkley has coached Port since 2013, leading them to 55 wins from his 100 games, while making the finals in three of his five years at the helm.