St Kilda have sacked coach Brett Ratten just three months after he signed a new contract.

His departure comes amid a review of the club’s football operations, although the 51-year-old had signed a two-year contract extension on July 8.

Saints president Andrew Bassat and chief executive Simon Lethlean will front a media conference on Friday morning at the club’s Moorabbin headquarters.

Ratten took over as caretaker coach midway through the 2019 season when Alan Richardson was sacked and has had three full seasons at the helm.

He led St Kilda to the finals in 2020, when the Saints won an elimination final against the Western Bulldogs.

But St Kilda have not made the top eight since then, finishing 10th in 2021 and 2022.

The Saints faded badly after a bright start this season, losing eight of 11 matches.

The club then started the review and the panel included David Noble, who was sacked as North Melbourne coach earlier this year.

Carlton also sacked Ratten as coach after the 2012 season.

St Kilda also announced on October 4 that veteran football administrator Geoff Walsh was taking over as their football manager.

It is understood that Walsh does not start until November 1.

The same day as his appointment, Walsh said in a radio interview that there’s a “degree of irrelevance” about the Saints.

“One of the things I can bring to the table is to make a hard call or to have a hard conversation,” Walsh told SEN.

“To not walk past something if you see it and you know it’s wrong, I’m willing to call it out.

“This might sound abrasive and Saints fans might get upset, but one of the things that I think when asked about how do I see St Kilda, I think the competition would say there’s been a degree of irrelevance.

“That should be abrasive. That should choke down people’s throats and I hope that going forward I can contribute to a profile that gives the Saints the due respect that they crave.”

The Saints are yet to confirm Ratten’s sacking, but there were multiple media reports late on Thursday night.

Untried assistant coach Adem Yze will be an early contender to take over from Ratten.

St Kilda had a quiet trade period after missing out on Jordan De Goey, who decided to shun free agency following weeks of speculation about his future and stayed at Collingwood.

Ratten’s departure comes amid significant off-field change at St Kilda.

Walsh replaces Lethlean, who left the football department last month to become club chief executive.

Matt Finnis had announced earlier this year he was leaving that role and Lethlean was anointed as his replacement.

Ratten is the third senior coaching change this year and given his reappointment only 98 days ago, the most unexpected.

Essendon sacked Ben Rutten in a shambolic process and replaced him with Brad Scott.

Alastair Clarkson took over as North coach, although his start has been delayed by the fallout from the Hawthorn racism controversy.

Adam Kingsley also is the new GWS coach, following Leon Cameron’s resignation earlier this year.