In case you hadn't heard, Collingwood premiership coach Mick Malthouse is stepping aside at the end of the 2011 season and will hand club-champion Nathan Buckley the reins.

Collingwood president Eddie McGuire was the architect behind the revolutionary deal - signed in 2009 - that meant that the club would secure Buckley's future rather than risk losing him to a rival club, and also keep hold of their premiership coach.  Regardless of the outcome of the 2011 season, Malthouse will vacate his position as senior coach, with Buckley his immediate successor.

The future of Malthouse has been a continuous debate almost since the deal was signed and with the 2011 deadline looming ominously on the horizon, speculation has continued with nauseating regularity.

Malthouse and Collingwood have repeatedly stated that the deal will be honoured: the legendary coach will not be leaving the club at the end of 2011, with Malthouse's manager reaffirming this position is a statement last week.

Yet that hasn't stopped the Magpies coach being linked with seemingly any club in Melbourne in the last few months, as he is in the box seat - supposedly - to take over at Melbourne, Hawthorn, Richmond, Carlton, Western Bulldogs or St Kilda, depending on which day of the week it is.

As recently as last week, Melbourne great Garry Lyon suggested the Demons should definitely make a play for Malthouse should they decide that the services of current coach Dean Bailey are no longer required.

The events of the last week has only added further fuel to the fire.

The three-time premiership coach met club McGuire in an effort to define his position. Just what will his duties be from next year? Although Malthouse's job description is not set in stone, McGuire categorically stated that Buckley would be at the helm in 2012.

"Nathan Buckley is running the show next year," proclaimed McGuire on Triple M radio.

But the question remains, what exactly will Malthouse be employed to do beyond the conclusion of the 2011 season?

Looking at the NFL and European football experience, his new role should be fairly easy to define.

The Director of Football position might be an unknown commodity in the AFL landscape, but it is commonplace in major sporting codes across the world. European football clubs have a swarm of coaches that work in tandem, under the direction of a Manager and in most cases a Football Director. The National Football League, not only features a similar make-up of a team of coaches working under one or two senior figures, but it also gives precedent to the Malthouse/Buckley situation.

Bill Parcells in an NFL icon. Parcels has served some of the leagues biggest franchises - New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots - as Head Coach over his illustrious career. Parcells twice reached the top of the NFL mountain, steering the Giants to two Superbowl Championships. However, it is Parcells most recent career move that is particularly relevant.

In 2008, Bill Parcells became the Director of Football for the Miami Dolphins. ‘The Big Tuna' still had a burning desire to operate, and contribute to an NFL team, but as a result of his advancing years he was arguably past the Head Coach expiration date. Here was a beloved, championship winning coach, making the transition from Head Coach to a ‘Front Office' role, charged with helping groom the next level of personnel within the club.

Sound familiar?

Parcells did not have any match-day coaching duties in his position, which matches reports that Malthouse will not have a match-day role in the coach's box. It's believed that Malthouse will take charge of the development of assistant coaches and the widespread coaching structure at the club.

Undoubtedly the rumours will continue to swirl around Malthouse, such is the nature of the agreement in place with the Collingwood Magpies. But ultimately, the hype doesn't seem to be having much effect on the 58-year old. If it is, he is doing a great job of hiding it.

Malthouse seems as relaxed as ever this year, he is speaking freely and openly in the media, where in the past he has sometimes been cagey. And on the field, his all-conquering Collingwood side is dominating the competition, and is almost unbackable favourites to claim consecutive premierships.

When asked about his role in helping Buckley transition into life as a senior coach earlier in the year, Malthouse was concise in his response.

"The brief I had was to give Nathan every opportunity to be a senior coach and be a successful senior coach," Malthouse said.

Regardless of what happens at the end of the 2011 season, Malthouse has undoubtedly succeeded in that aspect.