Port Adelaide director of coaching Richardson made a stunning about-face on Wednesday, just hours after a statement saying he had no interest in the Saints job.
Soon after, he told Port he had had second thoughts.
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“Alan Richardson has informed the club that he has reconsidered his position and will hold discussions with St Kilda in relation to their senior coaching position,” Port Adelaide said in a statement on Wednesday morning.
“Port Adelaide was told of this decision late last night and will make no further comment at this stage.”
Soon after, Melbourne radio station SEN reported Richardson had been given the job, before St Kilda issued a statement soon afterwards saying no decision had yet been made.
Either way, it clearly signals Richardson is high on any Saints shortlist to replace the sacked Scott Watters, and ex-Port premiership coach Mark Williams is not the fait accompli many thought to take St Kilda’s top job.
Richardson has been a long-time assistant at Essendon, Collingwood, Carlton and the Western Bulldogs, before joining Port as director of coaching under Ken Hinkley.
He has been in contention for several head coaching roles, but always just missed out.
The 48-year-old played more than 100 games for Collingwood before moving into coaching.
The Saints have already confirmed current assistant coaches Adam Kingsley and Simon McPhee are also being considered for the head coach’s job.
Williams, who is a development coach at Richmond, had previously been considered the front-runner for the role.