By Jake Niall of The Age
March 22, 2004
Just five days before the AFL season begins, Richmond has experienced more internal conflict, following the "very reluctant" exit from the club of director Brendon Schwab.
Schwab, who resigned from the board on March 12, left the club following differences of opinion with president Clinton Casey and has taken a parting shot at the Casey regime.
Meanwhile, former senior player Brendon Gale has expressed concern about the circumstances of Schwab's exit and the resignation of another director, Peter Welsh, who quit a week after Schwab because of business commitments.
Following his resignation from the board on March 12, Schwab sent a letter to the board, including Casey, detailing his concerns about some aspects of the club's administration, including questions about its financial position.
Sources suggested last night that Casey had not been unhappy to see Schwab leave, though yesterday the president did not wish to openly criticise a director who had served the club for several years.
Casey has taken an uncompromising stance in his dealings with some directors of late and, having effectively acted as personal guarantor of the club's $1.7 million overdraft, has strengthened his position at the helm of the club.
"Brendan's got a view - it's not necessarily everybody's, it's not going to be my view, it's not going to be the next person's view," Casey said yesterday, when asked about the letter.
"But he had a view on some areas he thought we could improve and they were his view. At the end of the day, he's no longer there and we'll be looking for someone else to take up the running."
Schwab confirmed yesterday he had been "very reluctant" to quit the club and that he had communicated his concerns in a letter to the board, which has lost two directors in the space of days.
Gale, a respected former player and ex-AFL Players Association president, said yesterday he was "very concerned" about the circumstances surrounding the departures of Schwab and Welsh, and suggested he would be reluctant to join the board, in the event he was invited.
Schwab would not divulge the contents of his letter nor criticise Casey, saying it was not appropriate for him to outline his reasons for resigning, "given the immediacy of the season".
He said he did not want to comment further on his concerns until the board had been given a chance to act on his comments. "I think it's very important that the board firstly has the opportunity to act upon the reasons which have prompted what would be, what I regard as, a very reluctant resignation and very difficult decision to make."
The Tigers play Collingwood in the season-opener on Friday and, like the Magpies, have had an indifferent pre-season - although their troubles have been more off-field than on, highlighted by the criticisms of coach Danny Frawley by his former mentor (and ex-board member) Tony Jewell and, now, the resignations of Schwab and Welsh.
Gale, an obvious candidate to fill one of the board vacancies, along with former premiership players Emmett Dunne and Michael Roach, said he would be "hesitant" to join the board, if he was approached, considering the circumstances of Schwab's exit.
However, he was positive about the club's football operations under the leadership of football director Greg Miller and of the season ahead.
Casey said he would shortly talk to a "couple of people" he had "pencilled in" as potential board replacements.
www.theage.com.au www.realfooty.com.au
March 22, 2004
Just five days before the AFL season begins, Richmond has experienced more internal conflict, following the "very reluctant" exit from the club of director Brendon Schwab.
Schwab, who resigned from the board on March 12, left the club following differences of opinion with president Clinton Casey and has taken a parting shot at the Casey regime.
Meanwhile, former senior player Brendon Gale has expressed concern about the circumstances of Schwab's exit and the resignation of another director, Peter Welsh, who quit a week after Schwab because of business commitments.
Following his resignation from the board on March 12, Schwab sent a letter to the board, including Casey, detailing his concerns about some aspects of the club's administration, including questions about its financial position.
Sources suggested last night that Casey had not been unhappy to see Schwab leave, though yesterday the president did not wish to openly criticise a director who had served the club for several years.
Casey has taken an uncompromising stance in his dealings with some directors of late and, having effectively acted as personal guarantor of the club's $1.7 million overdraft, has strengthened his position at the helm of the club.
"Brendan's got a view - it's not necessarily everybody's, it's not going to be my view, it's not going to be the next person's view," Casey said yesterday, when asked about the letter.
"But he had a view on some areas he thought we could improve and they were his view. At the end of the day, he's no longer there and we'll be looking for someone else to take up the running."
Schwab confirmed yesterday he had been "very reluctant" to quit the club and that he had communicated his concerns in a letter to the board, which has lost two directors in the space of days.
Gale, a respected former player and ex-AFL Players Association president, said yesterday he was "very concerned" about the circumstances surrounding the departures of Schwab and Welsh, and suggested he would be reluctant to join the board, in the event he was invited.
Schwab would not divulge the contents of his letter nor criticise Casey, saying it was not appropriate for him to outline his reasons for resigning, "given the immediacy of the season".
He said he did not want to comment further on his concerns until the board had been given a chance to act on his comments. "I think it's very important that the board firstly has the opportunity to act upon the reasons which have prompted what would be, what I regard as, a very reluctant resignation and very difficult decision to make."
The Tigers play Collingwood in the season-opener on Friday and, like the Magpies, have had an indifferent pre-season - although their troubles have been more off-field than on, highlighted by the criticisms of coach Danny Frawley by his former mentor (and ex-board member) Tony Jewell and, now, the resignations of Schwab and Welsh.
Gale, an obvious candidate to fill one of the board vacancies, along with former premiership players Emmett Dunne and Michael Roach, said he would be "hesitant" to join the board, if he was approached, considering the circumstances of Schwab's exit.
However, he was positive about the club's football operations under the leadership of football director Greg Miller and of the season ahead.
Casey said he would shortly talk to a "couple of people" he had "pencilled in" as potential board replacements.
www.theage.com.au www.realfooty.com.au
The fact Clinton went guarantor should have no bearing on his position at the club. People are elected to that position, it can't be bought. I hope that's just journalistic licence and not fact. 
