Beleaguered Carlton coach Brett Ratten will front a media conference on Thursday morning.

Ratten is widely expected to be sacked by the Blues, despite having another year remaining on his contract.

Malthouse, a three-time premiership-winning coach with West Coast (twice) and Collingwood (once), would be the red-hot favourite to replace Ratten in the top job at Carlton.

There were unconfirmed reports on Wednesday that Ratten had been told by Carlton powerbrokers his time at the club was up.

But Carlton president Stephen Kernahan insisted on Monday that Ratten would definitely coach the team against St Kilda on Sunday, with any decision on his future to be made next week.

The Blues dropped out of finals contention following Saturday’s shock loss to Gold Coast.