HAWTHORN has been dealt a blow with St Kilda’s chief operating officer Ameet Bains informing the club he will not pursue its vacant CEO position.

The Hawks have been without a chief for four months after Stuart Fox was appointed to the MCC and Bains was heavily linked to the vacant position.

However foxfooty.com.au understands the respected administrator has informed Hawthorn of his decision to remain at the Saints, where he has been since January, 2011.

Bains has been one of the club’s key drivers in returning St Kilda to Moorabbin which appealed to the Hawks, who are set to call Dingley home in the future.

Round 18

He has also overseen its list management strategy and rebuild, which ironically could see a top-five pick land at the Saints courtesy of a seemingly lopsided trade deal last year between Hawthorn and St Kilda.

LIVE stream every game of every round of the 2017 Toyota AFL Premiership Season on FOX SPORTS. Get your free 2-week FOXTEL PLAY trial and start watching in minutes. SIGN UP NOW >>

Acting Hawks CEO Tim Silvers — who was chief financial officer at Waverley under Fox — is in the mix to win the role permanently, while Fremantle boss Steve Rosich’s name has also been floated as a potential target.

It was even suggested that Mark Evans would return to the Hawks before he took up the head position at the Gold Coast Suns recently, although whether he was targeted or not is debatable.

Bains’ has an all-encompassing role at St Kilda that combines list management, player contracts, major projects, strategy, media and legal issues. He is second-in-charge to former AFLPA CEO Matt Finnis, who replaced Michael Nettlefold at the helm in Seaford three years ago.