AFL boss Andrew Demetriou has warned a would-be challenger of St Kilda's board to steer clear and let the club sort out its disputes.

Demetriou said media personality Steve Bedwell, who is reportedly mounting a challenge to oust Saints president Rod Butterss, should stay out of it if he loves his club.

Bedwell is reportedly organising a six-man ticket to remove Butterss and his incumbent board after tiring of the Saints' on-field struggles and Butterss' ongoing dispute with former coach Grant Thomas.

Butterss' dispute with Thomas, whom he sacked last year, turned nasty this week when the president accused his former great mate of undermining the club.

Demetriou took the unusual step of speaking on the St Kilda board's behalf by warning Bedwell and any other would-be challengers to let the current board resolve the club's problems.

"The last thing a football club needs is instability and for people to think to put their hands up and run challenges against people on boards," Demetriou told Southern Cross radio.

"The St Kilda Football Club, regardless of what people might think or might write, is a very well-run football club, very sound at board level.

"This board came into operation when it (the club) was in significant debt.

"They're returning $1 million profits, they've gone close in finals.

"Yes, there's some issues with the former coach.

"But people who think they can challenge and do a better job than Rod Butterss and his board, I think should think carefully and think in the best interests of the football club and allow the board to manage itself as it has done very soundly."

Demetriou said he was not privy to the dispute between Thomas and Butterss, who is suing the ex-coach to retrieve over $1 million lent in a personal loan.

© 2009 AAP
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