The proposal will be among the agenda items at next month’s AOC Annual General Meeting (AGM) on May 6 in Sydney.

Melanie Woosnam, Hockey Australia President, put forward two motions regarding the concept of an Honorary President.

The first would see the position created for an individual judged to have "made an exceptional contribution as President", with a recommendation made prior to an AGM.

Woosnam then suggested that Coates should be made the inaugural Honorary President should his 26-year spell as President come to an end and he agree prior to the Congress taking place.

"In the event that there is a change in the Presidency, Hockey Australia believe it is important we be in a position to recognise the exceptional contribution made to the AOC and Australian sport in general."

Coates’ position at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) vice-president only stands while he serves as the AOC President.

The Australian is one of a number of IOC members whose status depends on their national role.

insidethegames understands should he take up the role of the AOC Honorary President, it could offer Coates an avenue to continue his membership of the IOC.

The campaign for the AOC Presidency has become increasingly fractious.

Coates confirmed to insidethegames last month that the Board had been made aware of a complaint against a staff member.

It followed reports that former AOC chief executive Fiona de Jong had a dispute with the organisation’s director of media and communications Mike Tancred.

Tancred had vocally supported Coates for re-election, claiming there was a campaign from those against him to ensure he is replaced.

He event wrote a newspaper piece backing Coates to remain.

It followed claims Roche was put up to standing by the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) chairman John Wylie, who has been involved in a public row with Coates in recent months.

Australian Sports Minister Greg Hunt has also rejected suggestions that the Federal Government is taking sides in the Presidential election race after claims Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was asserted to have intervened in reappointing Wylie as ASC chairman before the election.

Coates told insidethegames earlier this week that criticism of Tancred’s intervention into the race was "fair".

It has been confirmed that incumbent vice-presidents Helen Brownlee and Ian Chestermann will face the challenge of Andrew Plympton for the two spots on offer.

Plympton has been nominated by Australia Sailing and is currently an AOC Executive Board member.

It is believed is he is supporting Roche’s campaign.

Mark Arbib, Craig Carracher, Nicole Livingstone, Danielle Woodward and Rio 2016 Chef de Mission Kitty Chiller are among those standing for re-election to the Board.

Notably, Australia’s London 2012 Chef de Mission Nick Green, a double Olympic rowing gold medallist, has opted against standing again.

Green is currently the chief executive of Cycling Australia.

International Cycling Union vice-president Tracey Gaudry joins Evelyn Halls, Michael Murphy and David Hynes among the nominees for the Board.

There are seven positions on the AOC Board on offer for the 11 candidates in the election.