Mark Ricciuto confident Patrick Dangerfield, Rory Sloane and Tex Walker will stay with Adelaide Crows

MARK Ricciuto said he would be “shocked” if Patrick Dangerfield, Rory Sloane or Taylor Walker left the club when they came out of contract next year.

Mark Ricciuto

MARK Ricciuto said he would be “shocked” if star players Patrick Dangerfield, Rory Sloane or Taylor Walker left the club when they came out of contract next year.

The morning after his board sensationally sacked Brenton Sanderson as senior coach, Ricciuto did not deny rumours Sanderon had lost the faith of the players but he did not name names.

MORE: DID RICCIUTO PREDICT SANDO’S SACKING?

“We spoke to all the key people you need to speak to ... the players were one of those groups and obviously formed part of the reason why he’s (Sanderson) not there from next year onwards,” Ricciuto said on Triple M’s The Hot Breakfast, which he co-hosts.

“When you do a review and look at what’s happened and what could happen, you’ve got to make a decision that is good for the football club and I would say that if we didn’t make this decision, things could go from bad to worse like they have at other times in the Adelaide Football Club history.”

Asked about the future of three of its best players who all fall out of contract next year, Ricciuto said:

“He’s (Dangerfield) contracted at the moment and I would be highly surprised if he leaves, really disappointed.

“Patrick Dangerfield when speaking to me is happy and I would be shocked if him, Sloaney or Tex don’t say at the football club.”

Ricciuto — who played 312 games for Adelaide and joined the board in July — said the Crows were going down a path of no return under Sanderson and the tough call had to be made.

The Brownlow Medallist was part of a group which conducted a thorough review of the Crows’ football operations and led to Sanderson’s sacking after three seasons at the helm.

But Ricciuto was adamant the Crows did not have Sanderson’s replacement waiting in the wings — a claim partially vindicated when the hot favourite and Ricciuto’s best mate Simon Goodwin was later announced as Melbourne’s successor to Paul Roos.

“I know we are going in the right direction by doing what we’ve done and that’s the first step,” Ricciuto told Triple M.

“There are plenty of other coaches in the competition ... I’ve got a shortlist in my head, we wouldn’t be unprepared.”

Originally published as Mark Ricciuto confident Patrick Dangerfield, Rory Sloane and Tex Walker will stay with Adelaide Crows