Alan Richardson departs as St Kilda coach

St Kilda coach Alan Richardson has agreed to part ways with the club after six years.

Alan Richardson has stepped down as coach of St Kilda. Picture: Getty Images

Alan Richardson opted to take the selfless decision to walk away from the St Kilda coaching position having seen the writing on the wall earlier this month following a discussion with club management.

While it is still raw, Richardson explained the need to make his decision and give his players the chance to salvage something out of the remaining six matches of the 2019 season.

“I’ve had my crack at it, it hasn’t worked and it’s time for someone else to have a go at it,” Richardson said.

“I think the coaching group of which I’m the head of has done a good job, I do. But there is some reality to the fact the whole thing has got to work — the business of the footy club has got to work, the belief from key stakeholders has got to be that we’re going the right way.

“It’s time for me now, given the sum of work and the fact that we haven’t won enough games or been consistent enough, it’s time for someone else to step in,” he said.

“It’s time to get a bit of clear air for the group to finish off the year strongly and get the most out of their own careers for this little block and do what they can for the footy club.”

Former Carlton coach Brett Ratten, who more recently has had assistant coaching roles at Hawthorn and currently St Kilda, has been appointed coach in a caretaker capacity. He has developed strong relationships with the team.

Brad Scott, who just weeks ago left North Melbourne as senior coach, has been mentioned as a possible long-term replacement. St Kilda joins North Melbourne and Carlton in the search for a new coach.

Richardson parted company with the club after six years, telling the player group late-morning of the outcome after 126 games.

The 54-year-old failed to get the team to a finals’ campaign, though dogged by a wicked run with injuries to key personnel. A scorecard of six wins-ten losses this season and four losses in succession spelled the end of his tenure.

Richardson met Saints’ chief executive Matthew Finnis on Monday to discuss the future and agreed the time had come for him to step down.

“The conversations with Matt have been really honest. I caught up with Matt after the Kangaroos game down in Tassie (July 7) … and it was then that there was a real frankness about the likelihood of going ahead.”

Asked if he could have been harder on the playing group, Richardson said he could not change who he is.

As a coach you have to be who you are. I don’t have any sense of unease about being a good person,” the out-going coach said.

St Kilda chairman Andrew Bassett, who is overseas, thanked Richardson and said he inherited the role at a difficult time but “team performance isn’t where it needs to be.”

“On behalf of everyone at the football club from the board, to the players, staff and supporters I want to thank Alan for his enormous contribution over the past six years,” Bassett stated in an open letter to club members.

Nick Del Santo said on SEN will be the interim coach taking the player group through the remainder of the season.

Del Santo, a former St Kilda star player, said he wants a tough coach with a “zero tolerance” outlook to get the job for 2020, rather than a “cuddly” coach that embraces and adopts a nurturing attitude.

The St Kilda Football Club board is due to meet next week. Bassett, who arrives back in Melbourne on Thursday, will head up a panel to assess candidates and, ultimately, select the new coach.

“It will be a rigorous process and we won’t leave any stone unturned,” Finnis said