Reports indicate a lack of evidence against former Hawks coaching staff Alastair Clarkson, Chris Fagan and Jason Burt is likely to see allegations of racism deemed unfounded by the long-running investigation into the claims.

An article published by The Age on Friday said two sources with knowledge of the probe, but unauthorised to speak publicly, said the AFL are moving to end the independent panel's investigation and the trio are reportedly likely to be exonerated.

John Middleton, the former judge who oversaw over the Essendon-ASADA federal court case in 2014 is poised to review the evidence, which ex-Western Bulldogs president Peter Gordon is said to have examined on behalf of the AFL.

Clarkson, who joined North Melbourne as head coach ahead of the 2023 season, stepped away from his duties at Arden Street on Thursday due to emotional and physical strains as a result of the investigation.

Fagan, now head coach at Brisbane, has been a vocal critic of the process, during which, he says, both he and Clarkson were yet to tell their side of the story after eight months.

In September, the ABC published explosive claims of alleged racist conduct by the pair and Burt during Hawthorn's recent premiership golden age, citing accounts from three former Indigenous players at the club.

It came after an internal cultural safety review of the club by Phil Egan.

Clarkson, Fagan and Burt have all denied any wrongdoing.

In recent weeks, a string of articles from the Herald Sun reported a hiccups had emerged in the way of a proposed mediation session involving parties involved.

Among the reports, a list of 18 demands said to have been placed in front of the former Hawks staff were published.

Fagan denied ever seeing the demands before Clarkson unloaded at both the now-highly criticised investigation and his former club during a press conference some days after.

Both coaches rejected claims they were unwilling to attend the mediation sessions.

Meditations proposed for this Tuesday in Adelaide are reportedly unlikely to take place.

The panel conducting the investigation, lead by Bernard Quinn KC, are said to be aware their work is likely to wind up.