Media reports swirling this morning that St Kilda have parted ways with embattled coach Alan Richardson have been confirmed.
Tom Browne of 7 News Melbourne tweeted the update this morning and the Saints have recently confirmed the news via an official statement.
“On behalf of everyone at the football club, from the board to the players, staff and supporters, I want to thank Alan for his commitment and contribution,” said club president Andrew Bassat.
“Alan brought great integrity, knowledge and experience to our football program, and under his leadership, the foundation for future success has been laid.
“He inherited his role at a difficult point in the club’s history, developed the young players now beginning to make their mark, took the club to the cusp of two finals appearances, and in recent times, showed great resilience in the face of adversity.
“Alan’s selflessness and focus on what is right for the playing group and club has always been immense, but it’s perhaps been best demonstrated in the past two days through his decision to step aside and allow the club the time and space to find the next coach of the St Kilda Football Club.
“There is no escaping the significant setbacks we have faced this year in regards to player availability, and these, as you would expect, have been taken into account in our decision.
“Ultimately, after six years under Alan’s leadership, the team performance and the position in which we find ourselves isn’t where it needs to be.
“This responsibility doesn’t just rest with the senior coach, and indeed we feel that the performance of Alan and the rest of the coaching group in adverse circumstances this year is to be commended.
“However, after significant consideration, we believe the time is right to introduce a new voice to oversee the next stage in our development and drive us forward.”
Former Carlton coach and Hawthorn assistant Brett Ratten – who joined the club earlier this season – has been confirmed as the interim replacement for the rest of the season.
In his sixth year at the helm of the club, Richardson faced intense speculation as to his future after the Saints found themselves anchored to the bottom four for the second year running. That speculation grew more intense in recent weeks when football boss Simon Lethlean was spotted sitting in the coaches box.
Coming into 2017 and 2018, they’d been considered strong chances to return to the finals for the first time since 2011, but missed in disappointing circumstances on both occasions.
It is the third coaching move this season after Brad Scott departed North Melbourne and Brendon Bolton was sacked by Carlton earlier this season. Both clubs have enjoyed vastly improved fortunes under caretaker coaches.
Christo the Daddyo
Roar Rookie
Yeah I know. But maybe there should be some criteria to the handouts...
Cat
Roar Guru
Well every single club gets AFL club distributions
Christo the Daddyo
Roar Rookie
There might have been some reduction, but I highly doubt it was significant. After all, there's no guarantee he (or any other sacked/resigned coach) is actually going to coach again. And if a club takes the initiative in ending the contract early that would almost certainly nullify any no competing employment clause that might be in the contract. Or at least, if Scott's lawyers are any good that's the way it should be. But I maintain my underlying point is still valid. For a period of time, a club is effectively paying someone to not work at the club, plus pay someone else to do the sacked person's job. Now, if the club is solvent and not accepting any grants from the AFL, I don't have a problem - it's their money, they can do what they like with it. But I don't think the AFL should be subsidizing that scenario.
Cat
Roar Guru
Brad Scott offered to walk out, I guarantee you there was a buyout. One of the benefits of a buyout is generally it allows coaches to seek immediate employment within the industry. Without a buyout the coach would receive full pay but would be prohibited from taking up any other position within footy (standard contract no compete clause).
RT
Roar Rookie
You gave to wonder. Matthew Lloyd was one of the prime instigators in the media pushing to have Knights sacked in favour of his untried mate. That didn't work out too well. Up until a few weeks ago he was doing the same with Worsfold. Well done on Worsfold for turning it around. Maybe Lloyd should butt out from now on with regards to Essendon.
Christo the Daddyo
Roar Rookie
"Sure they may have received a pay bump for the position change but it wouldn’t be that much and would likely be offset by whatever money the club saves when they negotiate a buyout with the departing coach." Er, if I were a coach who had just been pushed out before the end of my contract I wouldn't be accepting one cent less than what was owed to me. using Brad Scott as an example, this means that for the 2020 season, NM are essentially paying Scott's salary, plus the salary of whoever replaces him. That's a fair whack of money considering the average annual salary for an AFL coach is around the half a million dollar mark.
Gee
Roar Rookie
Nice guy, dud coach. Bring in the next hopeful, then get rid of him when the Sainters keep on failing.
Cat
Roar Guru
Sure he is. If you look at North's list he got far more out of them than the sums of their parts. That is what a good coach does. Someone like Leon Cameron on the other hand has a prime list and keeps crashing the Ferrari, his side is far less than the sum of their parts.
Cat
Roar Guru
Would Carlton and North Melbourne be better off right now with Bolton and Brad Scott still in charge? The reality is their replacements were already on the clubs books and getting paid. Sure they may have received a pay bump for the position change but it wouldn't be that much and would likely be offset by whatever money the club saves when they negotiate a buyout with the departing coach. It would be different if a club hired a coach on a 5 year deal and fired them after 2, then they actually would be paying for two head coaches. But all the current coaches are on expiring deals and replaced by people already on the clubs payroll.
GJ
Guest
lol .. good way to miss the point of the comment
Slane
Guest
Matthew Knights says hi.
Christo the Daddyo
Roar Rookie
Fair point, but how often does that happen in reality?
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Kane Cornes...pffft! I lovethe comment David Mundy (one of the AFL's all time nice guys)made about Cornes today on afl.com: "Kane's obviously making a lot of headlines at the moment and he loved chatting when he was playing and that certainly hasn't changed," Mundy said. "I'll listen to people and comments I really value, and I guess unfortunately for Kane if that's of his nature, he's not one of them."
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
He doesn't carry a personal grudge.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
I reckon there will be 5 clubs without senior coaches by the years and. Lyon and Hinkley to go at the end of the Season, perhaps Woosha too if Essendon doesn't make it. I'm saying Lyon will go more out of hope then anything else, saw that Leigh Matthews named him in his top 3 coaches in the league - has Leigh lost the plot?
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Yes, infamously failed a bumping test by Leigh Matthews in the week leading up to the grand final as he had a cracked collarbone, replaced by Shane Kerrison who became a premiership player.
Republican
Guest
.......good decision on his part, personally I expect. A new coach won't change the Saints prospects in the near or distant future. They are an entity destined for extinction, together with a few other struggling Melbourne clubs. This is due to a ruthless media dependant AFL culture of win at all costs and symbiotic of the market that feeds it. They simply don't have the finds to compete financially.
Cat
Roar Guru
"The AFL should cease all grants to any club that sacks a coach prior to their contract running out. " Sounds great in theory but what happens when a club does its due diligence, thinks its gotten the right person but it doesn't work out. Is the AFL and club better off having a coach who is either bad or a bad fit forced to stay? Don't you want clubs to improve? I certainly do. If a club has a coach like Richardson, Bolton or Brad Scott who isn't getting it done, no point is forcing them to wait til end of season.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
He was talking about still a chance at the 8 being their focus. The remote chance was extinguished by the loss.
Seano
Roar Rookie
Media isn’t to blame, even if they make stuff up it’s only week clubs that fold to imaginary pressure.