North Melbourne will know by Sunday if Alastair Clarkson has picked the Kangaroos as the AFL club he wants to coach next season.
The Kangaroos remain optimistic they will secure the services of the four-time Hawthorn premiership mastermind, despite late interest from Essendon.
But Clarkson has described the situation as "quite embarrassing" and said he had "enormous respect" for caretaker North Melbourne coach Leigh Adams and beleaguered Essendon mentor Ben Rutten.
"With the situation around 'Truck' (Rutten), he's still got a year of his contract to run and it's quite embarrassing being the centre of attention in a situation that is just so difficult for both him and his club," Clarkson told Ten News on Thursday.
"I'd prefer to be able to get off the back page, and I know full well that this circus will all end once I can make a decision, one way or another.
"The sooner I can do that, the better."
North have for weeks appeared likely to land Clarkson as their full-time coach replacement for David Noble in what would be a massive boost for the struggling club.
However, the Bombers this week launched an audacious bid to nab Clarkson amid board turmoil at Tullamarine as David Barham replaced Paul Brasher as president.
Rutten, who is contracted for 2023, remains Essendon's coach but the Bombers have approached Clarkson and are hoping he can help the once-powerful club storm back into premiership relevance.
The Bombers' last flag came back in 2000 and they have failed to win a final since 2004.
North have exclusively dealt with Clarkson since they parted ways with Noble in July and remain bullish the 54-year-old will return to the club he began his playing career with back in 1987.
"We're pretty confident we'll know something by the end of the weekend, and we're really happy with the way things are going," Kangaroos president Sonja Hood told the Seven Network.
"We think we've presented well to him. He's presented well to us. We understand where each other's at and we'll see how that plays out.
"We've had fantastic communication with both him and (manager) James (Henderson) all the way throughout."
North have a "plan B" but are hoping they don't have to reveal what that is.
Former St Kilda and Fremantle coach Ross Lyon, as well as Port Adelaide mentor Ken Hinkley, are believed to be the club's top choices after Clarkson.
Hinkley has come under-fire this year as the Power dropped out of the finals after playing preliminary finals in 2020 and 2021.
Power chairman David Koch was last week forced to publicly reassure Hinkley of his future, just days after the high-profile TV host warned every position at the club would be reviewed.
Hinkely said he had no intention of considering any other offers.
"I'm committed to Port Adelaide and expect to see out my contract at Port Adelaide as Port Adelaide are to me," he told SEN SA on Thursday.
