PETER Summers is one step closer to passing on the presidency of St Kilda to fellow director Andrew Bassat following a Saints board meeting on Thursday night.

Summers' term was set to end in 2019, coinciding with his maximum six-year term, but that has been brought forward.

The Saints have endured a disastrous season, winning just four games when they were expected to contend for a finals spot.

Football manager Simon Lethlean joined the club at the start of 2018 and has been reviewing the football department.

While coach Alan Richardson is contracted for 2019, with performance clauses in place to see him stay in charge for 2020, assistants Rohan Welsh, Simon McPhee and Lindsay Gilbee have not been offered new deals.

List manager Tony Elshaug has also been moved on. James Gallagher is his replacement and will take over that role next Monday, with Elshaug to continue for some time as part of the handover process.

A St Kilda spokesperson said the board changes had been going on for some time.

"The board of the St Kilda Football Club has been working through a thorough process regarding succession planning for the role of president. That process remains ongoing," the spokesperson said.

There is also expected to be significant movement among the playing list.

Nathan Freeman, Billy Longer, Hugh Goddard, Sam Gilbert, Mav Weller, Jack Lonie, Lewis Pierce, Nathan Wright, Darren Minchington, Darragh Joyce, Ray Connellan and Doulton Langlands remain out of contract.

Irish defender Joyce is expected to be rolled over onto a new deal as a rookie for a third year.