CARLTON'S board will sign off on a three-year maximum $3 million contract offer to Mick Malthouse, with the 59-year-old three-time premiership coach to be approached by the Blues as early as today.

With an emotional Carlton president Stephen Kernahan confirming yesterday that Malthouse's availability was a key factor in the sacking of his premiership teammate, he also admitted he was unsure whether he would survive at the helm of the club, with his board paying out a third sacked coach in succession.

Mick Malthouse. Credit:Sebastian Costanzo

The Blues are understood to have internally formalised Ratten's exit package before they sacked him two days ago. Ratten, who declared again yesterday that he was ''a career coach'' and would investigate the Port Adelaide job, will receive more than $500,000 from Carlton regardless of his next position.

The 41-year-old is believed to have received several unofficial offers from other AFL clubs yesterday, with Port Adelaide chief Keith Thomas confirming to The Age the club's interest in interviewing Ratten. Thomas is understood to have been in contact yesterday with Carlton chief executive Greg Swann.