Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams appears likely to be retained beyond 2009, with the final verdict on his future to be announced on Tuesday morning after a marathon Monday sitting of the Power's board at Alberton Oval.

Williams was taking his wife out to dinner to celebrate her birthday while the board deliberated at length as a result of a clause in the coach's contract which stipulates that the Power must offer him a new deal by June 30 in its final year or free him up to seek other options.

The meeting began at midday (CST) with all eight board representatives present and was thought to be winding up when one member, Anthony Toop, departed at 5.45pm without making any comment.

But the rest of the board did not emerge from club headquarters until 9pm, and president Brett Duncanson maintained a brisk pace to his car as he explained that a press conference would be held on Tuesday to announce the board decision.

The length of the meeting may not seem like a vote of confidence, but the most plausible scenario is that Williams will be retained as coach, a position he has held since 1999, as the majority of Port's board members are understood to be sympathetic towards him.

However Williams will probably be facing a significant pay cut in order to help balance the books at the club, which has been battling through financial difficulties for most of this year - discussion of the size of the contract may have formed part of the reason for the lengthy meeting.

Power midfielder Kane Cornes said early on Monday that the players wanted the matter resolved as soon as possible.

"It's nice for you guys (in the media) to talk about it (the senior coaching position), but it's been done to death and we all know where the situation's at. We'll just wait and see how it pans out," Cornes said.

"I'm not going to bother speaking about it today - there's no point. It will be settled soon enough."

Port's results since the loss of the 2007 AFL grand final have been poor, though there is belief that the Power list is strong enough to be a contender provided the coaching and back-room staff can get things right.

Not one member of the Port Adelaide playing or coaching staff has diverged from a chorus of strong public approval for Williams, and the man himself has re-affirmed his desire to remain with the club of his legendary father, Fos, after flirting at times in the past with the thought of a senior coaching job in Melbourne.

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