Having abandoned Moorabbin, St Kilda Football Club is without a home - and perhaps $3.5 million of State Government funds.

The state was to contribute that amount to the $10 million development of St Kilda's social club - a commitment now in doubt, according to Premier Steve Bracks.

"If St Kilda decide to move to another location, we'll have to consider our funding arrangements and whether that's suitable to also follow," Mr Bracks said yesterday.

After news broke following a row with the local council over poker machines, St Kilda nominated TEAC Oval in Port Melbourne as a possible new home.

No way, said Port Melbourne Football Club general manager, Barry Kidd. "There is more chance of relocating to the moon than TEAC Oval. We haven't had any discussions with St Kilda and we won't be either. We are just not interested."

St Kilda insists it will move from its bayside home, where it's been since 1965, to a new base for training and administration, frustrated by Kingston Council's push to cut the number of poker machines at the proposed South Road social club.

Chief executive Archie Fraser said he hoped St Kilda would have a new training ground by 2009. "We can't stuff around for another two years waiting for the council," he said.

The $10.5 million revamp of the Moorabbin base was to have been paid for by the AFL, the State Government, Kingston Council and the club. The proposal was dependent on the council approving the transfer of the club's 83 poker machines 200 metres from Linton Street to South Road.

Kingston Mayor Topsy Petchey said yesterday the club's decision was perplexing because the council supported the relocation. She said the club was misleading the public by suggesting the council was trying to block plans - but it also voted to advise the Gaming Commission that it would "strongly support" any move to cut the number of poker machines at the new venue.

Mr Fraser said any attempt to get the go-ahead for the poker machines through the commission was futile without full council support.