St Kilda president Rod Butterss has called on the AFL to make a ruling on the boardroom challenge that aims to wrest control of the club.

Speaking at the club's Moorabbin base this morning, Butterss said the bid for control of the board led by transport executive Greg Westaway was a "hostile takeover" and called on the rival bid to submit its plans for the club's future to the AFL.

"We will request the AFL to assist us to provide an independent valuation of the plans of this rebel group", said Butterss.

He admitted he had not sought approval from the league's headquarters before requesting them to take on the role.

Butters said that if an AFL-led evaluation of the rebel bid showed it was better-placed to lead the club, he and his board members would step aside.

He reacted angrily to suggestions from the rebel group that it would institute a no drugs or alcohol policy for directors, saying Westaway had insinuated that board members had taken illicit drugs or been intoxicated at club functions.

He said several directors were investigating taking legal action as a result of those suggestions.

Butters rejected suggestions by the rebel group - which includes former players Nathan Burke and Andrew Thompson - that spending on football departments had been insufficient during his tenure, saying that spending had increased over time as the $3.7 million he inherited at St Kilda had been repaid and the club had achieved a position of surplus.

He said the club's spending on fitness and conditioning staff had exceeded all but two Melbourne clubs this year and that spending on the recruitment department was roughly equivalent this year to spending at ladder-leading Geelong.

"Over the past seven years the financial position of the club has been turned around," he said.

He expressed disappointment that Thompson - who has only recently retired from football - had joined the rival group, but said he had admired the player for many years.

Despite rumours that the club was poised to lose key sponsors, including Vodafone and Bill Express, Butterss said his group would have a major sponsor next year.

"Sponsors come and go at every footy club every year," he said.