Early on Monday, when the Port board held an unscheduled meeting, Hinkley had already been offered a two-year extension on significantly better money than his previous long-term deal. The best the coach of five years could have hoped for one week earlier was a third year on performance terms.

But by the time the Port directors broke up on Monday, chief executive Keith Thomas was given the green light to improve that offer and the instruction to resolve the stand-off whatever it took. Hinkley, having already achieved contrition from his chairman, David Koch, received the extension he requested with no performance clause.

His next task is to demonstrate what he and his team can achieve without feeling as though they are working under some form of old-style Port Magpies stranglehold. Koch deserves much credit for putting his hand up to Ken and Donna Hinkley, having already achieved so much since he arrived at Alberton.

Koch is another in a long line of high-profile club presidents who largely deserve credit but struggle to delineate between appeasing the faithful and supporting his coach and his team. Say what you like about the fact that players and coaches are well rewarded for what they do but the sporting landscape has changed and those living within it are not prepared to be publicly targeted by their bosses any more and coaches are increasingly demanding to control the message and prioritise unity more than ever before.

And Gold Coast? The club had every right to court Hinkley and risk looking a little foolish. But Suns bosses, contrary to some reports, were never confident they had landed the man who loomed as the ideal candidate for that floundering football club.

They even a feared early on Monday that they had been played by Hinkley's management ??? again not right. Even if the concern over Koch's style and subsequent stand-off landed the coach a significantly better deal this was more than a negotiation, less than a threat best described as an ultimatum.

Ken and Donna Hinkley wanted security. Hinkley did not want to coach with a metaphoric gun to his head and whatever you say about the team's improvement this year the coach was adamant the extra pressure did not help. And his wife genuinely found the fishbowl environment in Adelaide when Hinkley felt his job was on the line completely unpleasant.

That message was conveyed clearly to Koch on Saturday and the chairman to his credit took that on board.

Which leaves the Gold Coast searching still for a coach and at this point likely to appoint the best-credentialed and most impressive of the level-four candidates who will present over the coming days.

That group, which includes Stuart Dew and Adam Kingsley, could unearth the next Alastair Clarkson, but that too will take time and meanwhile the negotiated Gary Ablett departure will prove another symbolic drag.

While all next year the club could be haunted by Ablett's successor, co-captain Tom Lynch, refusing to commit to the Suns beyond 2018.

With Hinkley out of the picture ??? and Brad Scott before him ??? all talk of a succession plan involving Dean Solomon has been put on hold and the tight-knit team at Carrara are feeling a little despondent.

Probably including Solomon, who pushed for Hinkley.

Chief executive Mark Evans is walking a fine line as he runs his coaching search and looks to restructure his football department.

Interestingly, he has not yet made a call on his football boss Marcus Ashcroft nor list manager Scott Clayton, which cannot make for an ideal working environment. Particularly given that the football review must be completed by now.

The suggestion now is that Ashcroft, whose position has been publicly under threat for months, could stay with a new general manager of football placed above him. Elsewhere Evans has also spoken with Luke Hodge regarding a playing/coaching role and Graham Wright, who has chosen to remain with Hawthorn.

The Suns had a big win when they lured Evans from the AFL's head office. Now Evans in turn needs a significant win.