Business to force Tigers' boss out
Greg Denham
The Australian
August 31, 2005
LESS than a year after surviving one of the AFL's most bitter attempted coups, Richmond president Clinton Casey is poised to step down because of increased business pressure.
Casey, who has been chairman of the Tigers since December 1999, defied last year's long-running boardroom challenge. He eventually retained control in a landslide ballot victory over an alternative rebel ticket headed by former directors Charles Macek and Brendan Schwab.
During one of the Tigers' lowest periods, Casey's nine-member board was re-elected by members last December with Casey reappointed as president for three years.
The 45-year-old is considering his position because of a likely workload increase in his roles as managing director of Retirement Services Australia and chairman of Links Living.
"The telling point will be the next couple of weeks. I'll know more in two to three weeks, and even more in November," Casey said yesterday. "But to stay I would need to do justice to both the football club and my business interests."
Richmond has had a volatile history on and off the field, but particularly in more recent times due to the Tigers being starved of success.
But Casey has stemmed further rebellions this year and brought calm as Richmond's financial and on-field standings dramatically improved.
It is understood that Casey's board and other senior people at Richmond have requested that he remain at the helm, even in a slightly diminished role.
However, the Tigers are addressing the possibility of Casey leaving. They have identified current board members as his successor, including Rob Dalton and Maurice O'Shannassy.
Casey missed six matches this year and has been forced to cut his time at Richmond by more than half.
He spends between 10 and 15 hours a week on football matters, compared to between 30 and 40 in previous years.
In 2003 he spent more than six months acting as the club's general manager, voluntarily, in between chief executives.
"I'm getting the full support from the board but I've told them I won't be able to be at every game and every function," Casey said. "I'm moving into another area of business and I'm not sure how much time it will take.
"If I was able to stay, I feel that I'd have to be right in there, and I don't know whether I'll get that opportunity."
Before the election, Casey informed members he would resign within 12 months if the Tigers did not meet their budgets and demonstrated on-field improvement.
Richmond has since achieved both.
It will reverse a $2.2 million loss last year with a small profit or break-even expected. And it won 10 matches under new coach Terry Wallace, six more than in 2004 when it took the wooden spoon.
Casey was appointed to the Richmond board in a period of instability almost six years ago and immediately took over as president from Leon Daphne.
During his time, the club has had three chief executives and two coaches.
He stuck with Danny Frawley for five years despite just one finals campaign. Casey's biggest fault, by his own admission, was to increase spending on his football department two years ago in a bid to lift the club from its finishing position of 14th in 2002.
"When I do go, I'd like to think I gave Richmond everything I had," Casey said. "Most of us started off here in 2000 as rookies and I'm proud that the club is now set up with one of the most experienced groups in history, from the CEO to the coach to the football manager."
Two years ago when Richmond was in a financial crisis Casey provided a personal guarantee with the ANZ Bank for $1.7m of the Tigers' debt.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,16440049%255E36035,00.html
