AN UNREPENTANT Jim Stynes and his Demons inner-sanctum were last night bunkered down, devising an explanation to Melbourne members over the shock sacking of Paul McNamee and a detailed five-point plan to save the club.

All 30,000 members will next week receive the letter from Stynes and his new board detailing the debt-ridden club's strategic priorities following the irretrievable breakdown between the new Melbourne administration and their bold but unorthodox chief executive.

With Stynes having declared a reassessment of the majority of the club's future planning, his new board last night broke down the Melbourne survival plan into five key platforms, with the first two priorities being financial viability and the Demons' onfield performance.

"We are telling our members that we have delegated our directors into five different categories, which will underline the future of the club," said Stynes. "They are financial viability, onfield, the organisation, which involves our home base and governance, brand strength and our stakeholders, which involves the Melbourne Cricket Club, the AFL, our supporters, our coteries and the Government."

While the letter would include a brief explanation of the McNamee sacking, Stynes said his priority was to look forward and not concern himself with damage control. McNamee fired several parting shots at the Irish-born Brownlow medallist after his sacking, saying he had been gagged by Stynes and frustrated at every turn in delivering his "Premier Club" plan.

Stynes, in turn, said that McNamee lacked football expertise and implied McNamee's financial background, engagement with staff and attention to detail were not his strengths.

"I know I'm copping a few punches," admitted Stynes late yesterday. "I've played through losing seasons and winning seasons and I know we had to make this change and I know it's in the best interests of this football club."

Melbourne will also meet the AFL next week and officially put forward its case for a $1 million special assistance grant next season. While the MCC remains unwilling to play a greater role in the Demons' battle for survival, it has indicated it will follow the AFL's lead with $500,000 towards the club it once boasted as a section for the 2009 season.

He said the club had already received expressions of interest for the CEO's vacancy and that he had re-engaged corporate headhunters the Slade Group to make a new shortlist of candidates.

Outgoing Fremantle boss Cameron Schwab, a former Melbourne chief executive, and Geelong's No. 2 behind Brian Cook, Stuart Fox, remain leading contenders to replace McNamee with Fox the original choice favoured by both Stynes and the AFL.