Essendon Bombers approach former player Ted Richards to join board of directors to replace Dean Solomon
Essendon have approached former player Ted Richards to join their board of directors as a replacement for Dean Solomon.
An industry source with knowledge of the discussions who preferred to remain anonymous said Richards, 42, was weighing up whether to replace premiership Bomber Solomon, who stepped down last month to join the club’s coaching panel.
Back in the fold: Ted Richards, the former Bomber and Sydney premiership player, has been asked to join the Bombers’ board.Credit: Pat Scala
Richards, who has forged a career in finance, is likely to make a final decision by the end of the week.
A club spokesman did not wish to comment.
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Richards played 33 games for the Bombers from 2002-05, before he was traded to Sydney, where he emerged as a key defender under coach Paul Roos. He played a further 228 games, including winning the 2012 grand final, when he held Hawthorn superstar Lance Franklin to three goals.
Solomon’s decision to quit the board in favour of the coaching department raised eyebrows across the league, but it was a move backed by captain Zach Merrett, who had unsuccessfully sought a trade to Hawthorn.
Merrett endorsed Solomon’s appointment on social media, expressing his excitement about the club’s direction. He posted the announcement to his Instagram story tagged with “#7”, suggesting the move could be a first step in healing his relationship with the club. Merrett, as Solomon did, wears No.7.
Solomon, a 2000 premiership Bomber, was a long time assistant coach at Fremantle, Gold Coast and GWS. He was also an interim senior coach at the Suns.
