There are claims the AFL secretly approached Geelong chief BRIAN COOK to take over the embattled Kangaroos administration at the start of the year.

The Herald Sun reports the League's intervention suggests it lost faith in management at North Melbourne, before yesterday's shock  resignation of chief EUGENE AROCCA.

The paper says the move was rejected by COOK, who’s highly regarded as a sports executive.

Image: Brian Cook [sportsbizinsder.com.au]