Richmond powerbrokers to meet with Focus on Football board challengers
UPDATE: RICHMOND president Peggy O’Neal will take demands from her would-be challengers to the Richmond board, setting the scene for a bitter election campaign.
Richmond
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UPDATE: A MEETING today between Richmond president Peggy O’Neal and her would-be challengers has ended with O’Neal agreeing to take some of the group’s demands to the Tigers board.
They include a request for the entire board to step aside, a demand sure to be rejected, setting the scene for an election, possibly in the second week of November.
Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale and a club staffer also attended today’s meeting at a city law firm with “Focus on Football” leaders Martin Hiscock and Mag Kearney.
The meeting was amicable but O’Neal made it clear she was extremely disappointed the group is pushing ahead with its challenge, which she views as disruptive.
Conversely, Hiscock said the meeting had been positive and was pleased the Tigers board would at least consider their proposals.
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“At what was a positive meeting, we reiterated our view that it was time for new and re-energised thinking at Richmond,” he said.
“We believe this starts with changing the board - many of the current board members have been there for too long.
“Today we offered an olive branch, not a concession, in the best interests of long-suffering Richmond members and fans. “We have to do something.
“We don’t want to wake up in 15 years’ time and say we should have done something before it became half a century since our last premiership.”
Earlier, Hiscock hit the airwaves, affirming his belief that the team has no game plan and the wrong captain in Trent Cotchin.
But, despite launching the rival ticket two weeks ago with the title of “president designate”, Hiscock said it won’t be all change at the top should the group be successful, declaring he will endeavour to keep O’Neal as part of the club’s framework.
“We’re coming as friends. This is an olive branch,” he said of today’s meeting.
“We don’t want to have to go to an EGM. We don’t want to drag this on.
“She will be (part of our plans). I don’t think it’s right to depose the president.”
It emerged today that the rebel group will personally pay out coach Damien Hardwick’s $1 million contract should they gain power and decide he needs to be sacked next season.
Hardwick will have “performance criteria”, Hiscock said, claiming the coach has described his fate as imminent.
“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 manager) 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.
“We want him to be the coach next year. We’ll build the team around him. There’ll be five assistant coaches that come into the club — things can change, and we’re giving him that opportunity.
“Who wants another year like we had this year? No one wants that.”
Fifteen days after the coup was launched, O’Neal and Gale have agreed to meet Hiscock and his deputy Mag Kearney at a city law firm.
We will set new performance measures for Damien, hold Damien accountable to these and, if required, provide the necessary funding to release him from the club.
Mag Kearney 
“The current board has its hands tied with respect to Damien, having entered into a binding contract with him until the end of 2018,” lawyer Kearney told the Herald Sun on Monday.
“We will work with Neil Balme and Co to give Richmond every chance for footy success.
“However, working closely with the football department, we will set new performance measures for Damien, hold Damien accountable to these and, if required, provide the necessary funding to release him from the club, if he is unable to meet these measures.”
Hardwick’s contract was extended for a further two years in March. His deal is believed to be worth about $600,000 a season.
The payout would come from the pockets of the seven challengers or from funds raised by the group.
Kearney conceded the ticket’s stance on Hardwick had shifted since the club unveiled a series of changes to the football department last week.
Hiscock said when the board challenge was announced: “Damien has a two-year contract with us and we would like him to stay. We will build a strong and supportive team around him and that will involve a CEO of football.”
Balme has since been installed above Dan Richardson as Richmond football boss with other changes made in recruiting, list management and strength and conditioning.
“We have the people behind us to trigger at EGM — but we are holding off until we have had a meaningful discussion with the Richmond board,” Kearney said.
“The club is in serious trouble with primarily the same board in place. We are still calling for a reasonable spill of the board to rejuvenate the club.
“Currently, the club is chaos. If we don’t get change at the top, chaos will continue in 2017 — and beyond. We have a vision, plan and solution.”
The rebel ticket says it is prepared to retain two existing Richmond board members.
Both groups agree an extraordinary general meeting can be called under the terms of the club constitution by the gathering of 100 member signatures.
The calling of an EGM would effectively trigger a 35-day election campaign with members eligible to vote in person or by proxy.
The Focus on Football group also includes 1980 premiership players Bryan Wood and Bruce Monteath, former club doctor David Marsh, Phillip Allison and Ingrid Williams.
Hiscock is a cardiologist and Kearney a former chief executive of Clubs Victoria.
Originally published as Richmond powerbrokers to meet with Focus on Football board challengers
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