Carlton will speak to Collingwood premiership coach Mick Malthouse as soon as next week as the Blues look to replace outgoing coach Brett Ratten.

Ratten fronted the media at Visy Park on Thursday, alongside president Stephen Kernahan and chief executive Greg Swann, to confirm that he had been told he would not coach out the second year of his current contract.

With the search for a replacement to begin immediately, one of the most telling moments in the press conference came when Kernahan was asked if Ratten would have been sacked if Malthouse weren't available.

"That's a close call," Kernahan replied, after contemplating the question for a full six seconds.

"As I said before, it's a very harsh call on this. Brett Ratten all year could have kept going in this job and that's why we waited so long because we were still in the game.

"If Mick Malthouse is available, well he's said he is, we'll find out.

"We're looking for a respected senior coach that hopefully can coach us to a premiership and he'll certainly be in the mix."

The Blues will also make enquires as to the availability of Sydney Swans premiership coach Paul Roos, despite his publicly stated aim to remain out of AFL coaching in 2013.

In other news, Swann refuted reports that senior Carlton players had urged the club to pursue Travis Cloke, but he didn't rule out approaching the Pies key forward, despite Kernahan's belief that he should, and probably would, stay at Collingwood.

Swann categorically ruled out a bid for St Kilda free agent Brendon Goddard.