St Kilda chief executive Archie Fraser has endorsed his president's call for former coach Grant Thomas to stop meddling in the club's affairs.
Club president Rod Butterss was highly critical of Thomas on Melbourne radio on Wednesday morning, accusing him of interfering behind the scenes to destabilise the club.
"I don't want to put it on the table in terms of the actual activities but there's plenty of activity going on in the background that is less than helpful to the St Kilda Football Club, way less than helpful," Butterss told SEN.
Thomas, who took over the reins at Moorabbin when Malcolm Blight was dumped mid-season 2001 before he himself was sacked in October last year, responded with a brief statement to SEN where he is employed part-time as a football commentator, that he was 'deeply hurt' by Butterss' attack and he refuted the president's claims.
Later in the day, Fraser told a media conference at Moorabbin that he wasn't prepared to detail precisely what it is that Thomas has done that's upset the club because he thought it would "embarrass the young leaders at the club".
"I think, to be fair, if we do go into detail, we'd be bringing some of our young players into positions we don't want to," Fraser said.
Asked whether any St Kilda players have been ordered to stay clear of their former coach, Fraser relpied: "We can't tell the players to stop making comment or contact. I don't think that's appropriate".
Thomas has maintained relationships with several St Kilda players since his departure from Moorabbin including co-captain Nick Riewoldt, who made his disappointment about Thomas' sacking very public at the time.
"In these situations, 'Thommo' plays the victim role and obviously if that's what he wants to play again, that's up to him," Fraser said.
"It's enough to say there's been several things going on, enough for us to make a public comment and a public statement and, other than that, we can't give any further detail.
"All we're doing is asking him to move on with his life."
"I think we've had enough discussions and its just time to simply move on 'Thommo' and allow us to become the best club that we can possibly be and help us rather than hinder us."
Butterss and Thomas are involved in legal mediation over Butterss' attempt to recover an unpaid loan.
Butterss is suing Thomas and his wife Kerry for $1.14 million plus damages - a sum that relates to what Butterss claims is an unpaid loan Thomas used to buy a house in 2001.