Mick Malthouse has distanced himself from the axing of three assistant coaches at Carlton, the AFL club he could join as early as this week.

There is little doubt that the three-time premiership coach will take over from Brett Ratten as Blues senior coach.

But Malthouse insists he had nothing to do with the departures of Mark Riley, Paul Williams and Alan Richardson, who learnt last week they will not see out their contracts.

"That is an internal process that Carlton has run with, that is the way it has worked out, Malthouse told 3AW on Sunday.

"I do not sack people when I have not signed with the football club - what say have I got?

"They make the decisions."

Malthouse admitted when he was senior coach at Collingwood, there was a "difference of opinion" involving Richardson and other members of the football department.

Richardson, a highly-rated assistant coach, eventually left the club.

"The issues were not necessarily with myself - but he had a problem or a run-in with another assistant coach and into the fitness section," Malthouse said.

Carlton could appoint Malthouse in the next couple of days, after they sacked Ratten before round 23.

Malthouse's long-time friend Robert Wiley is tipped to be one of the Blues' new assistant coaches.

The club also announced last Thursday that development coach Darren Harris would leave in November and return to Perth.