IF BEN Cousins is to play AFL next year, it won't be with North Melbourne.

The club released a statement on Thursday night saying it has no plans to draft him, despite continued speculation that he could be headed to Arden Street.

Just as Collingwood did, North decided not to pursue the Brownlow Medallist after an investigation into his situation and the possible ramifications of recruiting him.

"In anticipation of the AFL’s approval to allow Ben back into the league, the club followed a process of due diligence but promptly decided it was not in its, or in the interest of stakeholders to pursue him," it said in the statement.

"The club will continue to identify, promote and develop youth."

One of the key points in the statement is the reference to stakeholders, with Friday's The Age reporting that Mazda, North's major sponsor, regarded the potential downside of drafting a player with Cousins' issues.

The Age said that senior football department officials had been discussing the possibility with Cousins' manager Ricky Nixon until the door was shut yesterday.

Following the talks with Mazda, chief executive Eugene Arocca is understood to have told the football department he would not present the Cousins scenario at next week's board meeting.

"The North Melbourne Football Club has said all along we were not going to draft Ben. Nothing has changed in that regard," he said.

When pushed on the Mazda talks, Arocca added: "They were overwhelmingly uncomfortable with drafting Ben, and we have no problems with that."

St Kilda remains the frontrunner to give Cousins a lifeline, with the 30-year-old given until next Wednesday to nominate for the NAB AFL Draft on November 29.