With the benefit of hindsight March's succession plan has backfired to a large degree. Whether you agree with the plan in the first place or not, it has been poorly executed.
1st. Get Miller off the board to eliminate any conflict of interest. This justifiably assures Steve Wright's position as CEO, and satisfies board governance issues.
2nd. Miller's board replacement a contemporary "Richmond Interested Person" in Tony Free, who was carrying undisclosed internet forum baggage and displays all the attributes of a loose cannon.
3rd. With Miller's position & input increasingly meaningless at board and operational level, sideline him.
4th. The preferred replacement target(s) may have been spoken with and made the right noises, however he (they) have failed to commit, and in an attempt to force his (their) hand, Miller was sacked. Botch-up the transition process by having the inexperienced loose cannon publicly announce targets and describe their discussions when those target(s) want discretion & confidentiality as they are in finals planning mode and don't want to burn their existing employer.
The premature announcement shows the RFC hand whilst simultaneously drawing the existing employer out and the counter offer to the target(s) of an upgraded package and eliminates any probable 2nd & 3rd ranked candidates due to the leakage. Farewell strategy & preferred targets.
5th. Publicly gag the loose cannon, unsuccessfully attempt to close ranks, lick the wounds, under-rate the current coaches 2008 seasonal performance and navel gaze to 9th.
9th (again). Continue an exhaustive (yet futile) nation-wide / best practice search to promote an internal candidate that has been "encouraged" to apply from within. Load this individual with all the responsibilities of the former Director of Football (in the last uncompromised draft for 4 years) and ensure that no recruiting replacements have been appointed in time for the draft.
10th. After indicating that mediocrity will not be accepted, reappoint all Assistant Coaches to appease the existing head coach, and sure up the new FM's position with the coaching department.
11th. After rightly & consistently indicating a time frame that the performance of the head coach would be subject to mid-season review, make pre-emptive noises regarding a contract extension undermining the new FM, however this extends an olive branch to the coterie's and maintain the power base of the current President.
12th. Find a major sponsor in a hurry.
16th. No more wooden spoons - ever !!!
I must be getting cynical jumping from 5th to 9th, but the final 5 was so long ago like a successful Richmond era.
I sincerely hope that CC is a revelation in his new role, but geez, the shifting political landscape of the RFC just does not yet lend itself to a stable and sustainable era. Hopefully there will be some form of success for Richmond, because we can ill afford to lose another generation of supporters because of the lack of on-field success.
As a "stakeholder" in the "brand", I hope that the powers that be understand that there are some 40,000 people that put their hands in their pockets to support the club, and that their self interest is not necessarily in the Richmond Football Club's interest.