Richmond confirms one of football's worst-kept secrets and sacks Miller
Michael Gleeson | July 28, 2008
AFTER a bizarre weekend of hide and seek, influential Richmond football director and former board member Greg Miller was last night officially sacked.
Miller, heralded as the man to deliver the Tigers success by former president Clinton Casey who entrusted him with carte blanch to rebuild the football department, leaves the club after six years at the helm.
Miller met with club president Gary March face to face last night and was told of the decision. The club had insisted on the personal meeting before officially confirming what was already widely known.
The decision that Miller should go was made at Tuesday night's board meeting where an extensive review of the club's football department by March and board members Michael O'Shannassy and Peggy Haines was tabled. The board approved the recommendation to sack Miller and while the timing of his departure was left open, it was expected to happen this week. As it turns it has happened this week, but not before a weekend of unconfirmed reports.
March and Miller spoke on Friday night after March returned from interstate and rang Miller after reports of his likely sacking.
It was agreed that given the rumours and stories in the media that the pair should meet to discuss the situation.
The former Kangaroos chief executive and shareholder fled Melbourne on Saturday believing he would be a distraction to the team on a match day.
He reportedly left for the holiday home of his wife's family on Raymond Island off of the east coast of Victoria, a place accessible only by ferry.
He sent a text message to coach Terry Wallace saying he would not be at the match that night.
While not returning calls from the media, Miller's absence in the context of rumours of his future was conspicuous.
March, determined to hold to his commitment to discuss the matter with Miller and to correct the lingering image of Richmond as ruthless and bloodthirsty, refused to confirm the story until he had spoken with Miller.
Wallace admitted on radio yesterday that he was uncomfortable about being left to publicly answer questions about Miller's whereabouts and impending sacking in his post-match press conference, despite having little knowledge of the situation. "I knew I was going to have to face the music prior to the match (on Saturday night) with not a heck of lot of knowledge on exactly where things were sitting and what was going on. I found that very, very awkward." he told 3AW. "I was almost a spokesperson for something that I didn't have knowledge on, and that is difficult".
He was concerned about how this might affect his players and assistant coaches.
"There has been a lot of speculation on our assistant coaches and I've virtually a guarantee from Gary and Tony Free that they are really pleased with the job that our assistant coaches are doing".
Former club captain Tony Free, who joined the board a month ago after Miller was persuaded to stand down, has been ensconced in a familiarisation of the football department. That process included him sitting in the coaches' box on Saturday night and attending various football meetings through the week.
He will make his own recommendations about the football department and its operations to the board at season's end from his conreview. That review did not form the basis of the decision to sack Miller.
The club has already indicated that it is more likely to favour adding two or three more coaches to the football department next year and it is understood there are no plans for any current assistant coaches to be sacked.
Wallace, with only next year to run on his contract, may feel renewed pressure on his position given the move on Miller and the on-going reviews of his department.
Winning on Saturday night and edging towards the eight obviously alleviates immediate concern and while there is no doubt that Wallace will remain at Punt Road next year. The issue of whether he is retained beyond next year is to be decided.
Several people including Nathan Buckley, former captain Wayne Campbell, who is an assistant coach at the Western Bulldogs and Craig Lambert have been canvassed about football issues and their interest in joining the coaching department.
Miller had been increasingly marginalised at the club over the past 12 to 18 months. The appointment of Craig Cameron as list and recruiting manager removed some of his duties, then earlier this year he was persuaded to quit the board he campaigned to join in the bitter re-election of Clinton Casey.
With LUCY BATTERSBY
http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/richmond-sacks-miller/2008/07/27/1217097059803.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1
