RICHMOND doesn't have a case to prevent assistant coach Mark Williams from pursuing the senior job at St Kilda, according to the AFL Coaches Association.

By sacking coach Scott Watters as preparation for the 2014 season gets underway, the Saints have unsettled opposition clubs who had finalised their coaching structures.

Highly valued at Punt Road, Williams was set to continue as the Tigers' head of development in 2014, guiding and mentoring the club's young players.

However, he is seen as the No.1 candidate to take over from Watters, with St Kilda reportedly declaring their interest to the Tigers this week.

AFLCA chief executive Danny Frawley said Richmond had little choice but to release Williams if he was offered the senior job with the Saints.

"They haven't got a case," Frawley told AFL.com.au.

"There's nothing they can do if he's offered the senior role at St Kilda.

"They could offer him a longer-term deal, but it's very hard to stop an assistant becoming a senior coach.

"That's a job promotion, so there's not a lot the Tigers can do, I wouldn't have thought."

Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale told The Age it wouldn't be unreasonable for the club to insist Williams honoured the final year of his contract.

"I'd like to think that St Kilda would accept and acknowledge thefact that Mark [Williams] is an extremely valued and highly competentemployee of the Richmond Football Club," Gale said.

A premiership coach with Port Adelaide in 2004, Williams also coached the Power to the 2007 Grand Final before stepping down in 2010 after 11 years.

He spent two seasons under Kevin Sheedy at Greater Western Sydney before joining the Tigers at the end of the 2012 season.

Richmond, which will have a standalone VFL team in 2014, has boosted its development resources and views the area as a priority.

Rather than directly replace new Brisbane Lions coach Justin Leppitsch, the Tigers secured Max Bailey and Andrew McQualter in development roles.

"Development is a big part of any club and will only become a bigger part going forward, particularly at Richmond," football manager Dan Richardson said recently.

Twitter: @AFL_Nathan