Richmond hasn’t ruled out blocking a prospective St Kilda bid to appoint Mark Williams as its senior coach.

The vastly-experienced, highly-regarded Williams, who is midway through a two-year deal as Richmond’s senior development coach, is reportedly one of the leading candidates for the position vacated when St Kilda sacked Scott Watters last Friday.

Richmond is wary of the potential disruption to its own plans for 2014.

“I’d like to think that St Kilda would accept and acknowledge the fact that Mark (Williams) is an extremely valued and highly competent employee of the Richmond Football Club,” the Tigers’ chief executive Brendon Gale told ‘The Age’.

“In all the given circumstances, including the late nature of the approach, it (insisting Williams’ contract is honoured) wouldn’t be an unreasonable position for us.

“We will await the outcome of St Kilda’s process before making a decision.”