RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick would be guaranteed his job in 2017 if a group challenging to spill the Tigers board was successful.
The seven-person 'Focus on Football' group, which on Monday declared the Tigers were in crisis and "35 years into a five-year plan", would also retain CEO Brendon Gale and football manager Dan Richardson.
They are set on installing a new "CEO of football" position, however, and identified Collingwood football manager Neil Balme as their desired candidate.
Balme has reportedly declared he has no interest in returning to Tigerland as part of the board challenge, which is being led by Epworth Hospital cardiologist Dr Martin Hiscock.
Premiership players Bryan Wood and Bruce Monteath are part of the ticket, which is aiming for a peaceful transition but is yet to speak to key figures at Punt Road Oval.
The group is promising to install Monteath and Wood as football directors if successful.
Dr Hiscock, who would be Richmond president if the challenge is successful, said on Monday that they would force an extraordinary general meeting if a peaceful transition did not happen, with signatures from "many of the club's greats".
"Make no mistake, this challenge is the real deal. There is a fighting fury amongst us," Dr Hiscock said at a media conference at Leo Berry’s Gym in Richmond.
"The Richmond Football Club is in crisis. Never has a year promised so much yet delivered so little.
"Whilst the current board has seen fit to fire numerous staff members, it remains self-satisfied and continues to endorse its own performance.
"We are asking the Richmond Football Club board to stand down forthwith. Let's make this a seamless transition. Let's do it with dignity and let's avoid an EGM."
Dr Hiscock said the 'Focus on Football' ticket, which first met 18 months ago, supported Hardwick, but called for the coach to change his style.
"Damien has a two-year contract with us and we would like him to stay," Dr Hiscock said.
"We will build a strong and supportive team around him and that will involve a CEO of football."
The new ticket also promised not to trade the club's top players, with captain Trent Cotchin, 2016 All Australians Alex Rance and Dustin Martin, star forward Jack Riewoldt and vice-captain Brett Deledio off the table.
However, a key plank for 'Focus on Football' would be a new aggressive trading and recruitment policy".
Dr Hiscock said he tried to make contact with president Peggy O'Neal and Gale on Monday morning, as well as the AFL, but was unsuccessful.
The Tigers last won a premiership in 1980, and have not won a final since 2001.
They finished 13th this season, with only eight wins.
Murmurings of a board challenge emerged early last month as a prominent group of supporters began meeting to discuss who would step forward to nominate for positions.
The 'Focus on Football' group is not affiliated with a separate group of prominent Tigers supporters that wasmeeting regularly last month at the Malvern Hotel to discuss a board challenge.
Dr Hiscock said the proposed new board would seek to retain two existing board members, preferably those who had recently joined.
Club legend Kevin Bartlett said he wasn't surprised by the challenge.
"When the club falls away as it did at the end of the season, and falling well below expectations, fans don't like to see their side not putting in, being non-competitive, looking disinterested and appearing not to care," he told SEN.
"That sort of attitude and perception agitates people, and today is an example of that."
O'Neal joined the board in November 2005 and was elected president in 2013.
Board members Maurice O’Shannassy (elected December 2004) and Robert Dalton (November 2004) have served for extended periods.
Lawyer Kerry Ryan, who joined the board in October 2013, is up for re-election, along with O'Neal.
In the event that they were unchallenged, they would be re-elected for a further three years.
Former premiership player Emmett Dunne will join the board from September, replacing long-time member John Matthies.
Corporate lawyer Simon Wallace, 42, has put himself forward as a candidate but has strongly opposed overthrowing the entire board.
Hardwick is signed up until the end of 2018 after agreeing to a contract extension before the season began.
Several players are expected to depart in the trade period, including former first-round draft picks Tyrone Vickery, Reece Conca and Ben Lennon.
