Terry Wallace's exit could come soon after Tigers take on Fremantle
Greg Denham | May 27, 2009 | The Australian
TERRY Wallace's swan song as coach of Richmond could be as early as Saturday night's game against Fremantle at Subiaco Oval.
And West Coast is set to reappoint John Worsfold as its senior coach early next month with the offer of a two- or three-year deal.
The Tigers have no intention of sacking their coach of 4 1/2 years, but it is understood they are preparing for his exit sooner, rather than later.
The exact timing of his departure will largely depend on Wallace, following a draining two months, including last week's speculation regarding his relationship with his players which ended with last Saturday night's loss to Essendon - the club's eighth from the first nine rounds this season.
Richmond is also concerned and monitoring Wallace's deteriorating health, including a stress-related 4kg weight loss over a matter of days last week.
The Tigers remain confident Wallace will be part of their travelling party that flies to Perth tomorrow, but that it is a matter of days, rather than weeks, before a caretaker coach will be required for the remainder of the season.
And, as has been well documented in recent weeks, Wallace has been guaranteed his full 2009 remuneration, believed to be about $650,000, should he decide not to see out his contract which expires at the end of round 22.
This weekend, Wallace is scheduled to join an elite list when he becomes only the 17th man to have reached the 500-game milestone as a player and coach.
He played 254 games - Hawthorn (174), Richmond (11) and the Western Bulldogs (69) - and has coached 245 games - 148 with the Bulldogs and 97 with the Tigers.
Wallace appears likely to walk away from Punt Road with his dignity intact before being officially told by the Richmond board some time over the next few weeks that he will not be given a contract extension beyond this season.
The "disclosure" clause is not in Wallace's contract, but it is understood that Tigers president Gary March promised him last year that he would be personally informed of Richmond's intentions at the midway mark of this year.
That time frame is fast approaching, and even Wallace is now fully aware that he is in his final year at Punt Road.
Though refusing to comment on the record about Wallace, Richmond yesterday did not dismiss the possibility that it has already informed Wallace of his fate.
The Tigers have not decided on a contingency plan should Wallace voluntarily depart early. But a caretaker coach will come from either development coaches Craig McRae or Jade Rawlings, who also coaches their VFL affiliate club Coburg, or former club captain and current assistant coach Wayne Campbell.
Wallace admitted after Richmond's latest loss, when its players gave their all for most of the first three quarters, that while their endeavour could not be questioned, the group lacks class.
"When it goes to the parameters of genuine quality, we're running short and that's the reality," Wallace said.
"Clearly, what's going on out on the park right now can't get us the job done. I think it's trying hard enough most games. We've been in most games at some stage, apart from the round one debacle, so we're having a crack from that point of view."
The future of at least three of the seven AFL coaches who are due to come out of contract at the end of the season, will become clear over the next few weeks.
While Wallace is the only certain casualty, it will be neck and neck as to whether premiership coaches Mark Thompson or Worsfold re-sign first.
Thompson has been sitting on an offer from Geelong for a while and is expected to agree to terms within weeks.
Cats chief executive Brian Cook yesterday reiterated that the length of contract was Thompson's decision. "It'll be a one- or two-year deal," Cook said.
Despite heading for another poor season after just four wins last year, West Coast's worst season on record, the Eagles are poised to end negative speculation by offering Worsfold a multi-year contract extension.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25543331-5012432,00.html
