GEELONG'S chief operating officer, Stuart Fox, has spurned advances from Melbourne to sign a three-year contract with the Cats and position himself as the successor to feted chief executive Brian Cook.

Fox, who had been close to joining the Demons, yesterday agreed to remain as the second-in-command at Geelong for another three years — tying his tenure to that of the highly regarded Cook, who knocked back the chief executive job for the new Gold Coast club to stay with the premiership favourite.

It is understood that Fox has twice been talked out of leaving by Cook and, in effect, has been promised the chief executive position when Cook finishes his stint. Cook, too, signed a three-year contract with Geelong after he discussed the Gold Coast position with the AFL.

The retention of Fox, on the heels of Cook's decision to stick with the Cats, is another significant victory for president Frank Costa's regime, which has placed great store in administrative stability.

Fox is believed to have been persuaded to stick with Geelong rather than take the top job at Melbourne, after Costa and Cook sold him a vision of how the club would take the next step in its development — including its redevelopment plans for Skilled Stadium and other community projects. But anointing him as the next CEO of the Cats also was a significant carrot, considering that Fox would likely have been better paid as Melbourne chief executive had he taken the job.

Fox's decision to pull out of the Melbourne chief executive's position signals the end of a roller-coaster ride with the Demons and the Cats No. 2. He came close to being offered the job in March but instead Paul McNamee was chosen by Paul Gardner's board.

Fox almost accepted the job several weeks ago but was talked out of it by Costa and Cook. So determined was Melbourne to sound out the highly regarded chief operating officer that he was convinced to speak to the club again last week and, with Cameron Schwab and Terry Dillon, remained in contention for the CEO's position.

Cook's No. 2 had cold feet for a second time on Tuesday night after a persuasive communication with the Geelong CEO of almost 10 years, who told him that the Cats' prospects were far better than Melbourne's. Having given up on Fox, the Demons remain equally enamoured with the presentation of Dillon, who is Ian Robson's No. 2 at Hawthorn and also put in for the job at the start of this year.

Although the Demons have been disappointed with Fox changing his mind a second time they remain determined to continue to hold talks with Dillon, and have not completely ruled out Schwab.