Essendon Football Club can confirm general manager of football Dan Richardson will depart the club after three seasons with the Bombers.
CEO Xavier Campbell explained the club’s decision to not renew Richardson’s contract as its internal football review continues.
“Dan is a good football person and has played an important role in the development of our senior coach Ben Rutten and has helped attract a number of talented people to the club,” Campbell said.
“But the decision to not offer Dan a new contract was made following ongoing discussions about football performance and the future direction of our football program, and we believe now is the right time to make this change in leadership.
“The football department requires an experienced leader to oversee the next critical stage of our football program’s growth and provide important support to Ben Rutten, who we have great confidence in as our senior coach.
“We wish Dan nothing but the best for the future and thank him for his contribution since joining the club at the end of the 2017 season.”
The outgoing Richardson made the following comment.
“I believe the current coaches and football staff that have been brought into the club over the last three years puts this football program on the right path for future success and I wish them all the best,” Richardson said.
The club will undergo a targeted and thorough search to find an experienced and senior replacement for this critical football leadership role.
The internal football review is ongoing and being led by President Paul Brasher and football governance director Sean Wellman.
The club will provide an update on this process upon its completion towards the back end of November, including identifying and addressing any shortcomings from the 2020 season and establishing key insights and learnings to be actioned for 2021.
