Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett has again voiced his opposition to the AFL umpires wearing microphones, saying it creates undue pressure.

Kennett has continued to criticise the league's administration after he paid a $5000 fine this week for his comments about umpiring.

While he was careful not to comment this time about the umpires themselves, Kennett remains adamant about the microphones.

The league says the umpires wear the microphones at the request of media outlets.

"I don't think the mics help at all ... it is better for the game that umpires do not have that focus put on them," he told Triple M radio on Saturday.

"I think that's AFL policy and it's a policy that ... makes it more difficult for the umpires and quite clearly makes it more difficult for the public".

The league gave Kennett the option of paying the fine or meeting with the AFL umpiring department.

While Kennett decided to be out of pocket, the former Victorian premier continues to fire shots at the league while denying he is at war with the game's administration.

Kennett said AFL operations manager Adrian Anderson would not have taken action against him without the support of league chief executive Andrew Demetriou.

"It's done, it's over - today is a new day," Kennett said.

"I'm not one who carries grudges at all, it makes no difference in my relationship with Adrian or Andrew, who was in it, obviously.

"Adrian wouldn't have done anything without Andrew."

Kennett added the administration did not pay enough attention to the views of clubs.

"I don't want to start a war, it wasn't my intention to do so when I made those comments two weeks ago now," he said.

"I've often had concern about the administration of the AFL, predominantly I think they do a good job.

"But ... it's more about their way than our way and there's very little discussion at presidents-AFL meetings, it's all one way."

He has concerns about the future health of the league, saying Australia could face tough economic times for the next five years.

"My greatest concern - and I say this knowing the AFL is probably the best-administered football code in the country, without any doubt at all - but we are entering rough waters," he said.

"We have six clubs that have guarantees from the AFL ... but looking out a bit further, the country, sadly is in for a very tough time over the next five years and that is going to affect our code.

"We need to be given comfort as to how we're going to manage the next five years."

Meanwhile, Kennett has said at his speech before the MCG match against Carlton on Saturday that the Hawks would offer help to the new Gold Coast team.

Gold Coast will enter the league in 2011.

"We would very much like to welcome them - not only that, we are prepared as a club to give them access to our thought processes and also some of our delivery aspects to ensure they come to the game well-prepared and can grow quickly and be competitive," he said.

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