Tigers battle to lure coach
21 July 2004
Herald Sun
THE search for Richmond's next coach is being thwarted by the noose held over the club by disgruntled member Michael Pahoff.
The Tigers have interviewed several candidates on a "long list" and all have expressed concern with the political climate.
Who they are, however, the Tigers won't say.
Terry Wallace, Rodney Eade, and Essendon assistant Mark Harvey are yet to be interviewed, while Garry Lyon has already rejected Richmond's overtures.
Richmond's football director Greg Miller, with former AFL coach David Parkin, had hoped to appoint a new coach before season's end and certainly before any EGM.
That has now changed as the off-field saga heads for a showdown.
Pahoff, who arrived back in Australia from the United States on Sunday, said yesterday that Richmond president Clinton Casey had a week to make moves to depart or he would face an extraordinary general meeting.
Pahoff has collected 100 signatures in order to call an EGM and a no-confidence vote in Casey and the board.
Miller said yesterday the political machinations had to be clarified before any announcement was made.
"(An appointment) won't be made for a while because we don't know the situation," Miller said.
"There's been no word if there's going to be an EGM and announcements and ratifications and even the process is all a little bit dependent on that decision.
"I can understand the trepidation of the key candidates not wanting to be involved in anything like that, either.
"They've expressed that, so before I can go further forward, we've got to ascertain what's going to happen or what's not going to happen."
A rival ticket to the board and president Casey is being formed and is to be led by former board member Brendan Schwab.
Their plan of action is understood to be linked with Pahoff's next move.
Miller denied the climate could force the club to miss out on their preferred coach, believed to be either Wallace or Eade.
"I don't think so, it's not that drastic," Miller said.
"Anyone who wants to do the job would want to know who they are going to be working for and what his surrounding team is going to be.
"It's a prudent question for them to ask.
"Who's going to be footy director, who's going to wherever, who knows?
"It's not trepidation they don't want the job.
"So, I'm not saying they won't commit, all I'm saying is it makes the whole process clearer if everyone knew what was happening."
Miller said the first-round interviews were continuing. "All I can say is David and I are having discussions in earnest and that's where we're up to," he said.
Miller also reiterated his belief that any election, or challenge, should wait until the new year.
"I would hope common sense prevails and we have the normal process of an election, which is usually in January," Miller said.
"It's a very important time for the Richmond Football Club and the timing is not right to have any EGM.
"We have so much to do, it would just put us backwards."
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