Richmond CEO Brendon Gale has backed embattled coach Damien Hardwick, saying he will lead the Tigers next season

UPDATE: RICHMOND immortal Kevin Bartlett says the club’s “pathetic performance” against GWS puts everyone on notice including coach Damien Hardwick.

More pressure has been piled on Richmond coach Damien Hardwick after the Tigers were hammered by Greater Western Sydney yesterday. Picture: Getty Images

RICHMOND immortal Kevin Bartlett says the club’s “pathetic performance” against GWS puts everyone on notice including coach Damien Hardwick.

His comments come just 24 hours after Tigers chief executive Brendon Gale guaranteed Hardwick will be at the helm next year despite the club’s poor season.

But Bartlett says fans are smart and know exactly where the Tigers shortcomings are and the club can’t afford another poor performance this weekend.

“Fans are smart enough to know sides are not all equal with skill, talent, size and experience and clubs are at different stages of development but what fans won’t accept is a lack of genuine effort by not having a go, appearing disinterested, refusing to chase or run hard and devoid of confidence,” Bartlett told SEN.

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“Fans can see when sides are just going through the motions, Richmond on the weekend ticked all those boxes with an insipid display against the Giants ... such a pathetic performance has now put everyone at the club on notice.

“For it was an effort that could kill off the coach, it could kill off the board, kill off recruiting managers, kill off assistant coaches and kill off members.

“If the Tigers play like that again against Collingwood on Friday night then Punt Road could blow up.

“Four games to go to see some effort, and for the club not to be embarrassed again.”

Despite back Hardwick, the Tigers chief executive was scathing about the club’s 88-point loss to Greater Western Sydney, labelling it “a very ordinary performance”.

He said of Satuday’s game, in which the Tigers kicked 3.5 (23), their lowest score since 1961: “We want to see effort and intensity and it was lacking”.

As the Herald Sun revealed on Saturday, the ongoing review will examine recruitment budgets and methods as well as assistant coaches.

Gale did not deny the club had contracted outside consultants to review the club, saying Richmond “engages different people in different roles”.

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Despite the comprehensive review, Hardwick seems the safest man at Punt Rd.

“Yes, Damien will coach next year and he has been a strong coach for our footy club and he will continue to be,” Gale said.

“He will be coaching next year.

“You need to have a connection and trust with the playing group and I know they respect and trust him and he is there for his players.

“The reason we decided to extended his contract (to 2018) was to give him the strength and confidence to improve this team into the future.

“That hasn’t happened and people are entitled to question the wisdom of that. I understand that’s how things work.”

Gale admitted the club’s disastrous form hasn’t helped their chase for Gold Coast minds Dion Prestia or Jaeger O’Meara but believes they will look at the big picture.

He said the club was desperately attempting to find out the reasons for its poor performance, examining every area of the football department.

“The players look like they are playing with out belief and they have looked that way for a while,” he said.

“It’s been a disappointing year from the opening bounce of Round 1. Clubs always review performance.

“Every day we look at every aspects. Don’t think we are sitting on our hands accepting of everything.

“It’s not good enough and we won’t accept it. We are asking a lot of questions of ourselves and our programs.

“There will be a time and place where we will share some of those outcomes if they are appropriate.”

More pressure has been piled on Richmond coach Damien Hardwick after the Tigers were hammered by Greater Western Sydney yesterday. Picture: Getty Images

Hitting the airwaves as supporter anger mounted in the wake of an 11th loss, Gale denied the club would embark upon a total list rebuild.

“We have turned over 41 per cent of our list in two years. There is no complete rebuild to start again,’’ he said.

“We have one player on our list over 30 after the retirement of Troy Chaplin.

“We need to give our (young players) time but we also need to act and it will be a very active and important off-season for our club.”

Gale confirmed the club was assessing its recruiting and considering how it could improve its strike rate.

“I think with our recruiting, like other clubs, we have come through a really difficult period to get access to talent.

“And I think if you look at our first-round picks they have generally been reasonably strong.

“Our picks two, three and four we have had some hits and misses with some real wins It can be better, but everything is better with hindsight.

“Clearly it is an area we are looking at as well.”

Originally published as Richmond CEO Brendon Gale has backed embattled coach Damien Hardwick, saying he will lead the Tigers next season