The Melbourne board has returned fire after an influential supporter threatened to force an extraordinary general meeting at the debt-ridden AFL club.

President-elect Paul Gardner accused Peter Kopke of having his own interests at heart by planning a 10-member ticket that will push for a spill on all board positions.

Kopke would make his bid at the start of the Demons' December 17 annual general meeting, forcing it to be adjourned until the February extraordinary meeting.

"The club will do everything within its legal and constitutional rights to ensure that the AGM proceeds on December 17," Gardner said in a club statement.

"To even propose holding it (the EGM) early next year, around the start of our pre-season smacks of disbelief.

"Clearly, this so-called supporter is more concerned about supporting his own interests than that of our club.

"Kopke's ticket is a group of 10 'faceless' men who are seeking to destabilise the club rather than participate in a democratic election process."

Gardner also alleged Kopke was given the opportunity to fill a casual board vacancy, but only expressed interest in the presidency.

Gardner is due to take over from outgoing president Gabriel Szondy at the AGM.

Kopke's move, reported in The Age, followed news that the club debt had reached $2.2 million.

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