Prendergast, the acting AFLPA chief since April when Matt Finnis joined St Kilda, has been strongly encouraged to remain at the association, particularly by player president Luke Ball, after learning in June that his pitch to become boss permanently was unsuccessful.

There is a sense within the expanding organisation that a new and senior role focused on stakeholder engagement - with current and retired players, clubs, coaches, the AFL and the AFLPA’s broader management team - would be beneficial.

A key negotiator for the players in the last collective bargaining agreement, and intimately involved in the still delicate negotiations with Essendon players involved in the doping investigation, Prendergast is also regarded as an important resource.

Former Australian Cricketers Association chief Marsh takes up his role at the AFLPA on September 1. An early agenda item will be the position of Prendergast, who became the organisation's general manager of player relations in 2010 - a role that followed his stint as Carlton’s player delegate - before he rose to the role of the AFLPA's caretaker CEO.

Formerly a lawyer for Kelly Hazell Quill, which specialises in media law and dispute resolution, Prendergast has been approached about a job change within the AFL industry since missing out on the top post at the AFLPA. But he has made it known within the AFLPA that his desire is to remain with the organisation.

Prendergast and Marsh have worked together previously as representatives for AFL players and cricketers through the Australian Athletes’ Alliance.

Marsh won the position at the AFLPA over candidates that included former Netball Victoria chief executive Leigh Russell, Australian Workers' Union head John-Paul Blandthorn, and Prendergast.

The selection committee included three players - Ball, Daniel Jackson and Brad Sewell. Prendergast agreed to continue acting in the CEO’s job for a further three months before Marsh’s contract with the ACA expired.

In recent weeks, Prendergast has met with almost every AFL senior coach as part of the AFLPA’s biannual meetings with clubs.

The involvement of coaches in the meetings was a first and an initiative pushed by Prendergast. Typically, the exercise has involved club CEOs, football operations managers and player development managers meeting with AFLPA representatives.

The meetings with coaches has proved illuminating and fruitful, with discussions about the sometimes tense topic of player leave time, work-life balance and professional development issues.

AFLPA legal counsel Brett Murphy, and player development boss Brett Johnson, have also been involved in meetings, that started last month and will conclude with meetings at Hawthorn, Collingwood, Sydney and Essendon.

The AFLPA also wants to deepen its relationship with the AFL Coaches Association, which is also in transition from a leadership perspective.