Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse has fuelled speculation about his future by admitting there's a slight chance he'll leave the club next year.

Malthouse, 57, has agreed to coach the Magpies until the end of 2011 and then serve in a new role as director of coaching for another three seasons.

The five-year deal formalising a handover to current assistant coach Nathan Buckley was signed in 2009.

However since signing the agreement, Malthouse has lifted the Magpies to premiership glory in 2010 and they're on track to repeat the dose in 2011, sitting on top of the AFL ladder after 16 rounds.

Malthouse told Nine's The Footy Show on Thursday that senior coaching was still in his blood.

He said his wife and family had asked him to take a break from coaching for at least 12 months.

"I don't intend to coach next year. I want to be at Collingwood next year," Malthouse said.

"I will not rule out coaching (again). I'm very aware if I have any ambitions at all to coach, it has got to be earlier rather than later.

"I can't turn the tap off. It's something in me after 28 years.

"Nathan Buckley will certainly be coach next year and I would like to be director of coaching at the football club.

"I can't say categorically (if he'll stay at Collingwood next year). I can but I'd be telling a fib.

"It's a minimal chance that I won't be at the football club."

Malthouse said he had full faith in club president Eddie McGuire to put the finishing touches to the job description of the role of coaching director.

"I am not going to be intimidated or harassed or pressured into doing things," Malthouse said when asked about constant media speculation over his new role.

But he said he needed to be stimulated by his new role.

"I don't want to be at a football club that I'm going to be paid well at to do a job that is insignificant and doesn't help the club go forward," the three-time premiership coach said.

"I can't be categorical because I haven't got the contract in front of me.

"I haven't got the actual job description totally ticked off."

Malthouse was evasive when asked if he would be comfortable if he was a first-year coach in 2012 with a veteran mentor in his shadow as coaching director.

"Nathan's got to feel an independence. I can release the reins," Malthouse said.

"I want Nathan to coach in his own right (and) select the football side.

"I'm not going to get in his road. If he feels threatened, he shouldn't."

Malthouse admitted several players had come to him individually and asked him what his plans were for 2012.

But he denied players had asked him to stay on as senior coach.

Malthouse also said he was unaware if any rival clubs had approached his manager about his plans for 2012, but he admitted his manager Peter Sidwell may have fielded expressions of interest.

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