Damien Hardwick will have to be paid out $1 million if Richmond decides to sack himMICHAEL WARNER
Herald Sun
August 2, 2016SACKING Damien Hardwick would cost Richmond at least $1 million.
Hardwick’s contract, extended for two more years in March, does not include get out clauses.
If the club chose to move on the seven-year coach it would be forced to pay out close to the full value of his contract.
Hardwick earns about $600,000 a season.
At least two Richmond assistant coaches were on Monday told their positions could not be guaranteed next year.
The Tigers are conducting a sweeping review of the club’s entire operation in the wake of a disastrous seven-win season.
Accountancy firm Ernst & Young is helping lead the audit.
Club director Rod Dalton is a senior partner at Ernst & Young but the club’s board is facing calls for its own major overhaul.
The Tigers honoured a commitment by all clubs for assistant coaches to be made aware of their contract status for next season by August 1.
It allows the game’s 180 assistant coaches time to seek opportunity elsewhere.
Richmond’s recruiting and list management departments are also being scrutinised, while up to 16 players remain uncontracted.
Tigers chief executive Brendon Gale declared on Sunday that Hardwick, 43, would coach in 2017.
Richmond skipper Trent Cotchin said Hardwick had a great relationship with the players.
“Absolutely, there is no question about that and there never will be,” Cotchin said.
“To be honest from a personal point of view I couldn’t care less what people are talking about outside of our four walls.
“Obviously, it wasn’t that good on the weekend ... there’s obviously a lot of work for us to do.
“The challenge for us is that we still have four weeks of the season to turn it around.
“Dimma is a fantastic person and he will wear most of it on his shoulders because that’s the kind of person he is. But the reality is we need to be better as a playing group.”
Richmond plays Collingwood, Geelong, St Kilda and Sydney in the last four rounds.
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