ACA boss Nicholson, whose hard-won fight for a revenue-sharing model underlined an acrimonious pay dispute in 2017, has revealed his six-year tenure will end soon.

The players' association will hold a board meeting in coming weeks to determine its recruitment process and timelines.

Nicholson, who played 110 AFL games for Melbourne between 1997-2005, is likely to step down in December after a handover period.

Nicholson's exit comes amid a tumultuous year for the sport in Australia, with CA locked in a tense stoush with Channel Seven as its free-to-air broadcaster seeks a major reduction in fees.

CA cut 40 jobs in June, when it also introduced a range of cost-cutting measures, removed Kevin Roberts as CEO and installed Nick Hockley as his interim replacement.

Hockley is still at the helm of the governing body, but at this stage remains on an interim basis.

Roberts and Nicholson butted heads over CA's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and revenue forecasts, three years after leading two diametrically-opposed sides during a heated pay spat.

ACA president Shane Watson, who was part of the panel that hired Nicholson, thanked the outgoing chief executive for always representing "the players with integrity".

ACA board members Alyssa Healy and Pat Cummins were also full of praise for Nicholson, who started at the association a month prior to Phillip Hughes' shock death in 2014.

"Alistair was a major driver in some of the great strides that female players have made over the last few years," Healy said.

"He identified very early on that bringing females into the revenue-share arrangements based on gender-equity principles was critical.

"In doing so, he secured a very bright future for the female game that set a global precedent."

Cummins noted Nicholson is welcome back in the change room at any time.

"Al is trusted by the players. We knew he would always be tough but balanced when representing us," Cummins said.

Nicholson is yet to reveal what comes next, having been linked to the then-vacant top job at his former AFL club in 2018 before the Demons appointed Gary Pert as CEO.

"I step down with some sadness as I love the ACA and the game," he said.

"But I look forward to watching from afar and taking a break to enjoy a summer of watching cricket after a particularly demanding tenure."

Australian Associated Press