Alan Richardson and St Kilda part ways

Pushed out AFL coach Alan Richardson has pleaded for no more questions about his family after a tough moment in his resignation announcement.

6 min read

July 16, 2019 - 1:26PM

Alan Richardson will not be there in round 18.

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St Kilda has confirmed former mentor Alan Richardson has parted ways with the club immediately.

The under-siege Saints coach was facing an uphill battle to be retained after another underwhelming season in charge.

His resignation was confirmed on Tuesday morning in a club statement before Richardson and St Kilda CEO Matt Finnis fronted a press conference at 12.30pm (AEST).

Richardson admitted there was “disappointment” at his journey ending before the ultimate goal of winning a flag.

He was calm and chose his words carefully while answering questions early in the press conference, while it was Finnis who struggled to deal with the heavy emotions in the room.

The chief executive needed to take a moment to compose himself while talking about the impact Richardson and his family have had on the club.

Richardson asked reporters at the start of the press conference not to ask about his family — and it was a question about why he made the special request that eventually brought him unstuck.

His voice trembled in the middle of a sentence when talking about the sacrifice his loved ones have made during his six years at the Saints.

“There will be a time when you reflect on what you’ve done and the sacrifice that people make,” he said before his voice began to crack.

“Sorry, when you start talking about my family, I get emotional. These players, they have become like a family too.

“At the right time, in the right way, I will thank everyone, but if I do it now I will fill this cup with tears.

“Please, no more questions about that.”

Alan Richardson had a difficult moment in his press conference.

Finnis also choked up and needed to suck in a deep breath after thanking Richardson’s wife Jo and sons Lachey and Ben.

“There has been difficult times as well,” Finnis said.

“Big losses back in the first year in 2014. Retirement of some of our top greats. Emotional moments such as the passing of Maddy Riewoldt.

“We thank his wife Joanne and his boys for lending so much of their husband and dad to the Saints over the last six years.

“We have loved having them at the club and just like Alan, we are stronger from their involvement. He has been a terrific role model since 2014. Every player who has departed our club under his leadership has done so with respect and with dignity.

“This is the mark of a man and it is why his impact will be felt here beyond his tenure as the club’s second longest serving coach.”

Richardson said he has not yet decided if he will seek a coaching position at a rival club.

He began telling senior players of his decision to walk away on Tuesday morning after meeting with Finnis on Monday afternoon where it was decided the time was right for him to pull the plug.

BRETT RATTEN TAKES OVER AS CARETAKER COACH

St Kilda president Andrew Bassat confirmed in the club media release that senior assistant Brett Ratten has been appointed to the head coach position on an interim basis through to the end of the year.

Ratten hasn’t been in the senior coach hot seat since he was sacked by Carlton in 2012.

Bassat said the injuries and key missing players that have crippled the club in 2019 could not excuse the team’s poor recent performances under Richardson.

“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,” Bassat said.

“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.

Gone.

“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.”

Richardson wouldn’t be drawn on his prospects of remaining in the job after the Saints fell short against Geelong over the weekend, leaving their AFL finals hopes in tatters.

Saturday night’s 12.12 (84) to 8.9 (57) defeat at GMHBA Stadium left the Saints 15th on the ladder and has proven to be his final game in charge.

St Kilda football boss Simon Lethlean declared last month the Saints needed to show clear improvement for Richardson to remain coach beyond this season, stressing that this meant beating teams above them on the ladder. In the past 11 rounds, the Saints have won just twice — against lowly Gold Coast and Carlton.

Seven’s Tom Browne was the first to report the news, suggesting Richardson walked away rather than face the sack after it became clear the club would not offer him a contract extension beyond 2019.

With the club’s 2019 campaign plunging into free fall after such an impressive start to the season, the St Kilda board was reportedly divided over Richardson’s future.

Members of the board were reported to have been actively pushing Richardson out the door.

Alan Richardson is one of the most decent people in football. I reckon given the obstacles @stkildafc had in its way this year and the constant undermining he had to put up with recently he did a pretty bloody decent job too. Good luck with what the future holds Richo.
— Rohan Connolly (@rohan_connolly) July 16, 2019

The veteran mentor reportedly had a clause to activate an additional year on his contract — to take him through to the end of the 2020 season — if the club had won a final this season.

With the club slipping to a 6-10 record and sitting in the bottom four, Richardson appears to have seen the writing on the walls and handed in his resignation.

He leaves with the fifth worst winning record in AFL football for senior coaches with more than 125 games in the hot seat.

Worst winning percentages as coach, 125+ games in charge
Paddy Scanlan, FITZ/CAR/GEE, 1913-35 - 32.54
Bill Stephen, FITZ/ESS, 1955-80 - 32.95
Bob McCaskill, NM/HAW, 1941-51 - 34.06
Robert Shaw, FITZ/ADE, 1991-96 - 34.62
ALAN RICHARDSON, PA/STK, 2013-19 - 34.65@FOXFOOTY
— Max Laughton (@maxlaughton) July 16, 2019

According to reports, Richardson has been aware for several weeks that his time at the club was up and he has made a decision in the best interest of the club to move on.

It gives St Kilda clean air to begin its search for Richardson’s replacement.

The 54-year old was into his sixth year at the Saints, but his coaching future in the AFL is now uncertain.

He becomes the third coach in 2019 to fail to see out the season after Brad Scott and Brendon Bolton also had their contracts torn up.

Brett Ratten is in the top job again.

Despite the grisly end to Richardson’s tenure, Bassat thanked the former mentor for his “selfless” decision to step down.

He also said the club has not made any decision about who will coach the club in 2020.

He said he will personally chair a selection committee that is yet to be formed to investigate all possible candidates for the open job.

The Herald Sun reports Ratten and former North Melbourne coach Scott are the early front-runners for the gig.

“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,” Bassat said.

“I also want to extend our gratitude to Alan’s wife Jo, and boys Lachey and Ben, who have allowed the St Kilda family to share their husband and dad during this time.

“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.”

ALAN RICHARDSON