PAUL Roos says he will make a decision on whether he wants to coach Melbourne by next Tuesday, unless the club demands an answer sooner.
Four days after declaring he was a "50-50" chance to take up the role, the Sydney Swans' 2005 premiership coach provided another update on Fox Footy's On the Couch program on Monday night.
He revealed he had discussed the position with family over the weekend, and begun contract discussions last Thursday, but was yet to get into the details such as the length of any potential deal.
Roos' wife Tammy and son Dylan have travelled overseas, and it is on their return next Tuesday that he expects to make a definitive call.
"I've gone through a pretty rigorous process, which I'm glad I did," Roos said.
"I spoke to my family on Sunday, and my wife and my son have now gone to Bhutan.
"They've been really good.
"I've been really clear with them that they're the most important thing for me.
"If any of them said no, then it's a definite no.
"Tammy and Dylan arrive back on Tuesday morning at about eight o'clock."
Roos met with some Demons players last week, and described them as a "really good young group".
He said his decision now rested on deciding once and for all if he could commit 100 per cent to the job.
"To be fair to the Melbourne Football Club, to the players and the members, you've got to be fully committed to doing it," Roos said.
"It's now time for me to put up or shut up.
"You've got to say, 'Look, I definitely want to do it,' but clearly the family is first.
"There's things that I like about it.
"I said at the start that I wasn't daunted by the challenge – it's more getting your head around actually doing it.
"And I've tried to be really honest throughout the whole process and let people know exactly my thoughts."
There has been speculation that Melbourne could look to announce Roos as its 2014 coach as soon as its best and fairest count on Thursday night.
Although saying he didn't feel a best and fairest was an appropriate time to unveil a new coach, Roos did say he was open to making a call before next Tuesday, if Demons CEO Peter Jackson asked for it.
"Probably in the next 24 hours, I will speak to Peter [Jackson] and say, 'When do you need to know by?'" he said.
"Unless Peter rings me tomorrow, and says 'we need to know by Friday' or 'we need to know by Thursday'.
"I wouldn't want to make an announcement at their best and fairest. Their best and fairest is about 2013.
"It's a celebration of the players' performances this year – it's got nothing to do with next year."
Initially reluctant about a return to coaching, Roos said his change of heart had come because "a couple of things have changed", although he declined to reveal what those factors were.
He said he would be happy to provide more detail if he took the job.
