HE HAS been gone for more than 12 months but it will be some time yet before St Kilda and Grant Thomas disentangle themselves.

Notwithstanding the change of leadership that occurred at Moorabbin in October, the terms of the divorce between the former coach and club remain contested, with two recent attempts by the board of new president Greg Westaway to resolve the dispute failing.

It is understood the Saints offered Thomas approximately $100,000 two weeks ago to settle his claim against the club; a two-part writ asking for a total of $276,000 which was served in September.

The approach, which was rebuffed, is believed to have been made on the club's behalf by former director and player Michael Nettlefold who has made a return to Moorabbin and may yet rejoin the board.

Yesterday morning, a further attempt to settle the claim and finally turn the page on a controversial period in the club's history failed, when representatives of both parties were brought together but parted without a deal.

The writ, which was served on the then St Kilda administration of Rod Butterss on September 5, includes a demand for $100,000 that Thomas claims was promised to him upon his sacking in 2006 on the condition that he did not criticise the club or anyone representing it.

The $100,000 settlement, which was meant to be paid last March, was allegedly offered by Butterss, then football director Mark Kellett and chief executive Archie Fraser, who remains with the club.

A further $167,000 is being sought for what Thomas has claimed are annual leave and public holiday entitlements, although the former coach signed a statutory declaration while he was still at the club which stated he had taken all the annual leave he was owed. Thomas has since claimed that he was pressured to sign that declaration.

Thomas said at the time of his unexpected departure almost 15 months ago that he could never hurt St Kilda and vowed to maintain a dignified silence but the Butterss board argued that he failed to honoUr this promise and engaged lawyer Nick Stretch to defend its decision to withhold the money.

On one occasion, Butterss publicly accused Thomas of attempting to undermine the club through a whispering campaign against members of the board and said the ex-coach had sought to interfere in the affairs of a number of players.

The then president, who spectacularly fell out with the coach in 2005 and later pursued the return of more than $1 million he personally loaned to him in 2001, was then ousted himself by Westaway and his Footy First ticket, who are understood to have allocated funds for a settlement with Thomas in the 2007 accounts.

St Kilda would not comment yesterday and Thomas could not be contacted.