“NOT ON MY watch” is the bold declaration from Richmond president Peggy O'Neal after suggestions her and members of her board should step down after a failed 2016 season.
O'Neal said she was in for the long haul, delivering an impassioned president's address ahead of Friday night's clash against Collingwood.
"We are absorbed in building a strong and bold premiership club and we'll leave the political maneuvering to others, as we can't afford to be distracted about the serious business we have to do," O'Neal said.
"After coming this far are we going to walk away from the challenge, of taking that next big step, on our road to the pathway of success? Or are we going to hand over the club and say it's all too hard?
"No we're not, not on my watch."
O'Neal rubbished suggestions the Richmond board was "stale and stagnant".
"It's unfortunate that the board, of all things, has become the headline," she said.
"Stability has been important and it has been a key to our performance on and off the field in recent years. Stability and change go hand in hand, stablilty allows change.
"Instability and change breeds chaos and I refuse to let that happen to this club."
O'Neal said that despite a disappointing season the club was dedicated to turning things around.
"Some people have tried to suggest that stability has come at the expense of change but that is utter nonsense," she said.
"This is a very different club than it was four years ago, much less what it was 10 years ago.
"While the ultimate prize has eluded us, the trajectory is absolutely clear."
O'Neal would not comment on the review into the club's football department, other than to say changes were in the offing.
"We don't make serious decisions on our future based on opinion or gut feeling. While not everything is science, there are some fundamentals to good decision-making, and the first fundamental is to be as well informed as possible," O'Neal said.
"All of you can appreciate that while matters are in progress it's premature to make announcements.
"There'll be a time and place, which I expect will be in the next few weeks, to share those changes with our members and our supporters."
