In November, 2013, Alan Richardson was appointed as the new head-coach of St Kilda Football Club. He promised that he would transform a struggling team of players into a top 4 team by 2018. After a mediocre season of not even making the finals in 2017 and the forced retirements of two club legends (Nick Riewoldt and Leigh Montagna), the team has lost its direction and played an entire season of listless football.

At the mid-season point of 2018, the team was floundering with only 1 win and a draw to show. In the second half of the season, with Richardson presumably coaching to save his career, very little improvement was shown. The season was done and dusted and with nothing to lose, yet Richardson did precious little to try any coaching innovations or tweak the game plan.

We, the members of St Kilda Football Club are unsatisfied with his efforts. He also came to the club with the reputation of being a good developer of young players, but most of our young players have neither progressed nor flourished as AFL footballers. Some of whom have been treated with utmost contempt, e.g. Nathan Freeman and Hugh Goddard (now both delisted). Alan Richardson has had five years to rebuild the team and turn it into genuine contenders, but instead it is languishing, finishing near the foot of the ladder and staring down the barrel of more losing seasons to come.

It is only insulting to suggest that Richardson is immune to dismissal, particularly after the likes in past of Ken Sheldon, Stan Alves and Grant Thomas who were let go after having the same time (in Sheldon's case less time) of a coaching tenure and having far better win-loss records, as well as implementing a regime that showed real potential for success and leaving something of a legacy behind for their successors.

Right now, many members of the St Kilda Football Club are threatening to not renew their memberships in 2019 if Richardson remains at the helm. With the club already in a financial mess of $10,000,000+ of debt (the highest debt of all the AFL clubs), this could bring it into an even more precarious position. With the club recently implementing changes in the football department, with new appointments to be announced for assistant coaches and recruiting staff, it seems only fitting that a position also be made vacant for a new head-coach, as Richardson must be held as accountable just as those dismissed. 

We've been rebuilding for five years and we don't have a foundation. New leadership is our best hope for the club's future success. 

Fortius Quo Fidelius!