Nick Pappas, the would-be King at South Sydney, has warned the National Rugby League club will be irreparably damaged unless there is a change of leadership at the upcoming elections.

Pappas and South Sydney chairman George Piggins traded verbal blows on Friday as the countdown began to next weekend's football club vote, where Piggins will face the greatest threat to his leadership since taking over in 1990.

Pappas and his team - which includes media personalities Ray Martin, Andrew Denton and Mike Whitney and former NSW premier Nick Greiner - were formally announced among 21 nominees for the football club board.

A typically defiant Piggins, who has vowed to fight tooth and nail to retain his place as chairman, was also on the list.

But Pappas encouraged Souths supporters to make the hard decision and sever ties with Piggins, the man who led the club's two-year fight for reinstatement to the NRL with Pappas at his side.

"There has been an erosion in confidence in the club," Pappas said.

"You'd have to be Blind Freddie not to see that. In 12 months it's unbelievable how far it's plummeted. That's not a criticism of George ... but a sign of the need for refreshment.

"Another year is going to be too late."

Pappas revealed he had been offered the post by George as far back as October, but had declined to take it on unless it was on his terms - with his own board.

The pair spoke on Thursday night, but Piggins on Friday hinted their relationship was beyond repair - a far cry from the days during Souths' Supreme Court case when they were the major players in the club's inner sanctum.

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