THE clean-out at the Gold Coast Suns has begun.

Foxfooty.com.au can reveal the contracts of assistant coaches Andy Lovell and Matt Primus will not be renewed beyond this season, with both midfield assistants told recently of their fate.

Lovell, who played 164 games for Melbourne and West Coast, has been at the Suns since day one after stints at West Coast, Geelong, East Perth in the WAFL and St Kilda.

Primus arrived at Gold Coast soon after completing his coaching stint at Port Adelaide, in which he led the side to 13 wins from 47 matches.

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He is nearing the end of his sixth year at the club.

The decision to move on Primus and Lovell came in late June, more than a month before the August 1 date from which the AFL Coaches’ Association suggests every assistant in the AFL should know their future.

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This date is just a guideline rather than a strict rule, but if coaches are yet to receive a contract offer for the following season, the AFLCA advises them to look elsewhere from this date.

It’s believed Primus and Lovell were keen to know their destiny as soon as possible in order to pursue opportunities elsewhere.

The vacancies left by Primus and Lovell’s departures will leave a gaping hole in Gold Coast’s midfield coaching department, while more football department changes are expected to come.

But Primus and Lovell’s departures pale into insignificance compared to those of co-captains Tom Lynch and Steven May.

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Restricted free agent Lynch appears almost certain to end up at Richmond, Hawthorn or Collingwood, while May has been linked to the Magpies despite holding a contract at the Suns until the end of 2019.

As the assistant merry-go-round ramps up towards August 1, several other clubs have begun reviews with members of their coaching department, namely St Kilda.

Football boss Simon Lethlean has plenty to consider in the coming weeks with six assistant coaches coming out of contract.

It’s understood Danny Sexton (Director of Coaching), Adam Kingsley (Transition Coach), Rohan Welsh (Forwards), Simon McPhee (Midfield) and Aaron Hamill (Sandringham VFL Coach) and Lindsay Gilbee (Development Coach) are all awaiting new deals.

Alan Richardson, Adam Skrobalak (Assistant and Frankston VFL Coach), Peta Searle (Head of Women’s Football) and Henry Playfair (Backs) are contracted beyond 2018.