Gary March denies reports of rift with Terry Wallace
Mark Robinson | September 02, 2008
CONFUSION reigns at Richmond over coach Terry Wallace's power within the crucial list management committee.
President Gary March last night said Wallace was among the group headed by recruiting and list bosses Craig Cameron and Francis Jackson.
Just 48 hours earlier, however, when asked about Wallace's role, March said: "It's really important the list management stays with Craig and that group".
It's understood Wallace has told confidantes he's not part of the main group, which, along with being shut out of considerations for the appointment of the next head of football operations, has him at loggerheads with the president.
Asked last night if Wallace was part of the list management team, March said: "Of course he is."
"There's no board members on it, certainly not me, I've no intention of being on it.
"Craig Cameron, Francis Jackson are list management/recruiting, and Terry Wallace, the senior coach, is on the list management sub-committee with Steven Wright (chief executive) and I think Paul Armstrong (football manager) might be on it."
Reports of a rift between coach and president continue at Punt Rd, although March last night denied he was feuding with Wallace.
"There's no need to talk about it because there is no story there," March said.
Wallace did not return calls last night.
Sources, however, told the Herald Sun the pair had been opposed on several issues.
They include Wallace's lack of support for the club over football director Greg Miller's sacking and the pointed praise Wallace gave to his assistants - and none for the board - after the club's best win of the season, the Hawthorn victory in Round 20.
It's also understood March is keen to reduce player salaries next year, while Wallace says the team is "locked and loaded" and wants to chase a top-end performer, thought to be Daniel Kerr.
The key issue is that Wallace's strong belief in the club's list and development staff and programs is not matched by March.
There are also strong suggestions morale in the match committee is very low.
The list management issue comes after March, on Saturday, assessed Richmond's season as five out of 10, a mark Wallace later judged as "harsh".
March did not back down yesterday, although he separated Wallace's performance from the team's.
"Probably on reflection, he (Wallace) did feel it was probably a bit harsh, maybe it was, but I thought it was an honest assessment for Richmond people," March said.
"We finished outside the eight so on any measure that's five out of 10. I'm looking at it unemotionally from a football perspective. "I thought it was good five."
Of Wallace, he said: "I'd give him more than a five."
March reiterated his stance that the coach didn't need to be involved in the appointment of Miller's replacement.
"Terry has spoken to a couple of people about being involved... but we just didn't think that was right and he understands that," he said.
"He will know about it before we make an appointment but he doesn't need to be involved in the process because he reports to that person."
Asked if his relationship with Wallace was as strong as it had been, March said: "I'm telling you we still have a good relationship. Do we disagree on things? We do. Do I disagree with Steven Wright? Yes, I do. We don't always see eye to eye, of course we can't."
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,24279157-19742,00.html