THE battle for power at St Kilda is threatening to become even more bitter, with recently retired club hero Andrew Thompson and former captain Nathan Burke officially turning on their president, Rod Butterss.

An internal feud that has tested the friendship of club legends and split the board now looks set to become personal, with Thompson, Burke and transport boss and potential president Greg Westaway announcing their seven-member ticket entitled "St Kilda Footy First".

The ticket, to be announced at 10am today at Telstra Dome, also includes a senior businesswoman, a Queen's counsel and at least one other well-known international businessman. It has the unofficial support of club vice-president Ross Levin and fellow director John Gdanski, who both could remain on the board should the challenge prove successful.

Butterss, who remained defiant last night and was mustering his forces, said he still could not believe Thompson was a definite member of the challengers who will push for an extraordinary general meeting in order to spill the board.

Butterss told The Age: "I don't want to pre-empt anything because nobody has yet spoken to me and these people have not yet made themselves known or their concerns known to me, which surprises me, given our successful financial performance and debt reduction over recent years. And it's not as though we're on the bottom of the ladder."

Asked his reaction should Thompson prove one of the challengers, Butterss said: "I would be shocked, absolutely shocked."

The group, which has been planning its assault on Butterss for several months, has singled its intention to retain coach Ross Lyon but review several key positions, including that of football operations manager Ken Sheldon. A challenge to Butterss' seven-year regime has been inevitable since he launched his spectacular but ill-timed attack on his former close friend, sacked coach Grant Thomas, last June.

A series of challenges have been mooted but this one has caused much angst among former club champions, notably Danny Frawley, St Kilda's longest-serving captain, who strongly criticised his close friend Burke on radio Triple M three days ago. Burke's decision to play a key role in a messy board challenge also has surprised another close friend, dual Brownlow medallist Robert Harvey.

Frawley, however, is believed to have made peace with Burke and the challengers believe, if successful, they will have strong support from a formidable group of recent past players.

St Kilda Footy First considers itself empowered by the expected loss of another club major sponsor, Vodafone, and the latest ugly chapter in the Thomas saga. He is now suing the club for more than $270,000.

The campaign will focus upon the club's relative lack of success in building a strong support network for its senior list via its football department despite successive million-dollar profits under Butterss.

Last year, the Saints were the second-lowest in the AFL in recruitment costs, their football department spending was ranked 11th and boasted eight fewer staff than the Kangaroos, who spend less on football than any other club in the AFL.

During Butterss' seven years, the chief executive position has changed five times. The rival ticket is also keen to oust directors Glenn Casey, Mark Kellett and Ray King.

Butterss, however, is working overtime to recruit new directors to fight the challenge.