St Kilda president's brutal confession after sacking Brett Ratten

St Kilda has sensationally admitted the decision to hand since-sacked coach Brett Ratten a two-year contract extension was a mistake, as fans remain baffled by the club's decision-making.

Saints president Andrew Bassat and CEO Simon Lethlean fronted media on Friday morning to shed more light on the situation, in which the also revealed they did not have an alternative lined up with pre-season training on the horizon.

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Ratten was offered the extension back in July, when the Saints were pushing for top four contention after an impressive start to the season.

After that though, the Saints lost a series of matches to ultimately finish in 10th place, with an 11-11 record.

Fans have labelled the decision to sack Ratten, who took over as caretaker coach in 2019, as a 'total disgrace', with Bassat and Lethlean both admitting it was an error.

"(This decision is a) very painful one for the club and incredibly disappointing for Brett and his family," Bassat said.

Lethlean, who moved into the CEO role after several years as the in the club's football department, said that the impressive form near mid-season had been a motivating factor in offering the extension at the time.

Ratten led the club to an impressive semi-final run in 2020 before dropping back out of the finals the following year.

"At mid-year, we were travelling pretty well," Lethlean said said.

"It was the right thing for us at the time to support and provide the certainty for Brett and the playing group to pursue the rest of the season with some certainty.

"If you crystal ball that now, maybe in hindsight that's the wrong decision."

The Saints embarked on a review of their football operations at the end of the 2022 season, which culminated in the decision to fire Ratten.

Bassat said it had become clear that there exists a 'big gap between where we are now and where we want to be'.

"At the time, the team was winning games and in contention, and we wanted to give Brett all the support he needed to give him the best chance of success and to show that he could be our long-term coach.

"If we as a club have regrets about that in hindsight, we cannot let those regrets get in the way of making the right decision for the future."

Brett Ratten sacking comes after St Kilda conduct internal review

Ratten is the third senior coaching change this year and given his reappointment only 98 days ago, the most unexpected.

The Saints faded badly after a bright start this season, losing eight of 11 matches.

The club then started the review and the panel included David Noble, who was sacked as North Melbourne coach earlier this year.

Carlton also sacked Ratten as coach after the 2012 season.

St Kilda also announced on October 4 that veteran football administrator Geoff Walsh was taking over as their football manager.

It is understood that Walsh does not start until November 1.

The same day as his appointment, Walsh said in a radio interview that there's a "degree of irrelevance" about the Saints.

Melbourne assistant coach Adem Yze will be an early contender to take over from Ratten, while former St Kilda coach Ross Lyon will also be considered for a potential return.

Lyon took the Saints to grand finals in 2009 and 2010, and went close to ending the club's premiership drought.

The 55-year-old has not publicly indicated his interest in returning to Moorabbin.

St Kilda had a quiet trade period after missing out on Jordan De Goey, who decided to shun free agency following weeks of speculation about his future and stayed at Collingwood.

With AAP

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