Richmond CEO urges fans to keep the faith after shock loss to Gold Coast Michael Warner
From: Herald Sun
July 17, 2012RICHMOND has urged its shattered supporter base to keep the faith.
Tigers chief executive Brendon Gale fronted a fan forum on the club's website this afternoon amid the fallout from Saturday night's calamitous loss to the winless Gold Coast in Cairns.
"It was incredibly disappointing to get beaten last week and we totally understand how our supporters feel. However, it doesn't change the confidence we have in the path we are taking,'' Gale said.
"We are more competitive than we have been in a long time. We have won seven games and lost another seven by less than 21 points.
"We have beaten Hawthorn and Sydney so we have seen genuine improvement. There is a lot of football left in this season and we look forward to the challenge as I know our players do.''
Asked about the club's decision to play a home game in Cairns, Gale said: "In 2010 the club opted to play home one home game in Cairns for the next three seasons.
"The decision was taken for a number of reasons, one being our weakened financial position and the critical need for the club to build its financial resources, and in so doing allow us to invest in our football department.
"An improved financial position allows us to provide our players with the coaching and resources they require to build on the clear improvement we have seen in the past two years.
"It will also assist us to be active during free agency, to build the depth of our playing list, and retain our high-quality players.
"It is in the best interests of the Richmond Football Club to build our financial strength now, and the decision was based on our needs.''
Gale said the club was moving closer to fielding its own stand-alone VFL team.
"The Cairns deal, coupled with the Fighting Tiger Fund and our improved operating performance will allow us to make significant inroads into our debt this year, make further critical investments in our football department and bring us closer to our stated aim of a standalone reserves team,'' he said.
Pressed on the internal suspension of Dustin Martin and sacking of Daniel Connors, Gale said: "Another key driver of success is the culture the playing group set and the expectations they have of each other as a result.
"Dustin Martin did not meet those expectations and as a result has missed the last two games. As with the decision to play games in Cairns, it was a decision that was made with the future in mind and we have no doubt it will benefit Dustin and ultimately this club.
"The expectations of Daniel were made very clear. He has by his own admission had some well-documented issues to deal with off-field and we hope this provides him with the chance to deal with those and get on with his life.''
He conceded the club was being tested for depth against other sides.
“We have a very young playing list and have turned over more than 30 players in the past three seasons and replaced that with talent secured in compromised drafts. Despite that, we believe we have some very good young talent that we will continue to develop in the coming seasons.
Clearly our depth is being tested at the moment and we need to find opportunities through free agency and the draft to improve our list. Our improved financial position will allow us to be active in free agency and we have also beefed up our recruiting department.”
Suns coach Guy McKenna said before the match the Suns were gifted about a five-goal head start by playing in their home state, opposed to the MCG.
Gold Coast’s last start at the G ended in 97-point hammering at the hands of Collingwood.
The Tigers would now need to win at least five of their remaining seven matches to feature in September.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/more-news/richmond-plans-to-end-its-deal-to-play-home-games-interstate/story-e6frf9jf-1226427440828
