Richmond board set to reject Focus on Footy request for spill, could trigger EGM

RICHMOND members appear headed to the polls in early November after the Tigers board rejected a rebel takeover push. VOTE FIRST HERE

Martin Hiscock and Richard Amos arrive for a meeting with Richmond heavyweights. Picture: Nicole Garmston

RICHMOND members appear headed to the polls in early November after the Tigers board rejected a rebel takeover push.

Tigers president Peggy O’Neal and chief executive Brendon Gale faced off with “Focus on Football” coup leaders Martin Hiscock and Mag Kearney for about an hour at the Bourke St headquarters of law firm Lander & Rogers.

Hiscock and Kearney formally submitted that the majority of the nine-person Richmond board resign.

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The board met later and O’Neal said the demand from the rebel group had been rejected outright.

The rebels indicated they would respond by triggering an extraordinary general meeting in the second week of November by gathering the signatures of just 100 members.

The move would effectively give both parties 35 days to campaign for votes from the club’s 70,000-plus members.

Martin Hiscock and Richard Amos arrive. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Margaret Kearney arrives for the Richmond meeting. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Hiscock indicated O’Neal was one of two current board members his group would keep on if they gained power.

The would-be president also affirmed his belief that the team had “no game plan” and that Trent Cotchin was the wrong man to be captain.

Today we offered an olive branch, not a concession, in the best interests of long-suffering Richmond members and fans.

Dr Martin Hiscock

Tuesday’s Herald Sun revealed Hiscock’s group had vowed to personally pay out coach Damien Hardwick’s $1 million contract should they decide he needed to be sacked.

“Damien’s already said: ‘I’m a dead man walking’. People have told me that,” Hiscock told SEN.

“We don’t think so. We would like to build that support around him and see how he goes. We’ve said that from the word go, that he’ll be there next year.

“But he will have performance criteria, and if he doesn’t meet those criteria at a certain stage during the year, the football department directors and (football chief) Neil Balme will make a decision on whether he goes or not.

“Everyone will agree that Richmond has had very little game plan. No, it’s not insane (to say that). It’s not insane at all. It’s quite clear that there is no game plan.

“Whether it’s his fault, or the players fault or the assistant coaches ... don’t forget five have been sacked.”

Of Tuesday’s meeting with Gale and O’Neal, Hiscock said: “At what was a positive meeting, we reiterated our view that it was time for new and re-energised thinking at Richmond.”

O’Neal said members were entitled to run for the board.

Richmond president Peggy O'Neal speaks at a Law Institute lunch. Picture: Sarah Matray

“We encourage any of our 70,000 members wishing to do so to engage in our nominations process or through our normal electoral process as part of the annual general meeting,” she said.

“The time leading up to the AFL draft is really important for all clubs and our priority right now is running this club, and providing a stable environment that allows our CEO Brendon Gale and our new general manager of football Neil Balme to build a stronger Richmond on and off the field.

“The Board and our administration – under the guidance of Brendon - is getting on with the really important business of attracting players, coaches and commercial partners to our Club, and planning for 2017.

Originally published as Richmond board set to reject Focus on Footy request for spill, could trigger EGM