Collingwood chief executive Mark Anderson defended the club’s handling of Jaidyn Stephenson’s exit after they offloaded the former AFL Rising Star winner to North Melbourne during the trade period.

Stephenson was one of four players shunted to other clubs in the Magpies fire sale, along with Adam Treloar, Tom Phillips and Atu Bosenavulagi.

The 21-year-old Stephenson stuck by his claim that the first he heard of a possible trade was through his manager, after he left his exit meeting with key football staff believing he would still be a Collingwood player in 2021.

He said he had to instigate the first contact with a senior club official, calling coach Nathan Buckley several days later to seek clarification over his status.

Buckley, Stephenson said, then told him to pursue a trade.

In a radio interview on Monday morning, Anderson refused to confirm the specifics of the timeline.

“Our football staff believe that it was absolutely well communicated to him around where he stood,” Anderson told SEN.

“Jaidyn, understandably, has a different perspective.

“Credit to him, actually, that he did pick the phone up.

“Communication is a two-way street and we’ve absolutely got the prime responsibility in that.”

Collingwood’s trade dealings, as well as the club’s perceived poor treatment of fan-favourites Stephenson and Treloar in particular, have sparked a fierce reaction from disgruntled supporters since the trade period ended on Thursday.

“We’ve had a lot of expressions of frustrations and anger but it hasn’t actually had an impact in terms of membership renewal,” Anderson said.

“We’d hope it doesn’t, clearly.”

Anderson refused to confirm specifics around Treloar’s contract amid reports Collingwood will continue to pay a significant chunk of his salary while he is at the Western Bulldogs.

The CEO admitted the move of Treloar’s partner Kim Ravaillion to Queensland to play Super Netball this season played a role in the Magpies’ decision to offload the star midfielder.