RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick is set to sign a contract extension with the Tigers in early 2016.

The new deal is expected to be ratified by the Richmond board before round one in March next year. 

Tigers president Peggy O'Neal told Fairfax Media she expected discussions on Hardwick's contract would begin on February 15 at the club's first boarding meeting for 2016.

"I would expect we would be at least starting to consider a proposal from the executive at the start of next year," O'Neal said.

"We think he has done a great job and there has been a lot of improvement in the team under him.

"Damien's contract has not come to the board yet but we have re-signed him twice and we are following the same process as in the past."

Hardwick is about to enter his seventh year at Richmond but he has failed to lead the Tigers to a finals win, with the team losing three elimination finals in that time.

The former Hawthorn assistant is one of four coaches out of contract at the end of next season.

Former mentor Alastair Clarkson, Nathan Buckley and Justin Leppitsch are the other coaches whose deals run out at the end of 2016.

Earlier this week, North Melbourne coach Brad Scott signed a new contract, while West Coast has recommitted to Adam Simpson.