Alastair Clarkson is spotted in Adelaide – but says he will NOT be coach at Port Adelaide

Alastair Clarkson has sought to distance himself from the rumour mill after being sighted in Adelaide, with the in-demand coach on the cusp of making his next career move.

Clarkson, 54, is currently in the midst of a coaching dilemma with Essendon and North Melbourne both eager to secure the four-time premiership winner’s services for next season.

The rock-bottom Roos are understood to have offered Clarkson a five-year deal to rebuild the club, while Essendon are set to make an 11th hour swoop with Ben Rutten’s future in limbo. 

Alastair Clarkson has been spotted in Adelaide as speculation over his future mounts

And Clarkson insisted that the AFL rumour mill was ‘secondary’ when spotted in South Australia on Wednesday, with the former Hawthorn coach attending a sick friend.

‘To be fair, what’s going on in my life at the present time is secondary to a tragedy that’s happened in the Caulfield Grammar community,’ Clarkson told Seven.

‘I’m here to see a good friend of mine and then get myself back to Melbourne.’ 

The 54-year-old has been linked with North Melbourne (above) and Essendon

Clarkson says he has no interest in replacing the under-fire Ken Hinkley at Port Adelaide

The four-time premiership winner added that he was prioritising the visit interstate over his coaching future, and poured cold water on the prospect of replacing under-fire Ken Hinkley at Port Adelaide.   

‘It’s secondary to what I’m dealing with in terms of my mates and what that community’s got to deal with, so we’ll keep everything in perspective,’ he said. 

Asked whether he would be interested in taking the Port Adelaide job, Clarkson said: ‘Nah nah, that’s disrespectful to Kenny (Hinkley), he’s still got 12 months on his job. I texted him tonight to let him know I’m coming across.’