'Choco' among three Tiger assistants dumpedNathan Schmook
AFL.com.au
September 1, 2016RICHMOND has dumped three assistant coaches as part of its football department reshape, with premiership coach Mark Williams shown the door.
Williams, who joined the Tigers at the end of 2012 to head up the club's development program, was joined by forwards coach Greg Mellor and defensive coordinator Ross Smith.
All three were out of contract and victims of a wide-ranging review into the club's football department undertaken with the help of accounting firm Ernst and Young.
"We thank all of these coaches for their commitment to the club, its players and our football program, and we wish all of them and their families the very best for their future endeavours," football manager Dan Richardson said.
Former Carlton and Footscray player Mark P. Williams survived the initial cull, while assistant coach Brendon Lade is understood to have a one-year offer to stay.
"The club has offered us a one-year deal and also given us permission to look at the market," Lade's manager Craig Kelly told AFL.com.au this week.
Also remaining as part of the Tigers' senior panel is highly-rated assistant Ben Rutten, who they are keen to retain.
Development coaches Andrew McQualter, Ryan Ferguson remain with the club, while retired defender Troy Chaplin has been transitioning into coaching since his last game in round 16.
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-09-01/mark-williams-among-three-richmond-assistant-coaches-shown-the-door