New Adelaide Chairman John Olsen has backed in controversial football director Mark Ricciuto to remain in the role.
Ricciuto has been caught up in multiple incidents this year, including revealing the contracts of players who have recently departed the club on radio and becoming involved in a Twitter spat with Gold Coast midfielder and ex-Crow Hugh Greenwood.
Olsen, who takes over after Rob Chapman stood down, said the club great will be a key part of Adelaide’s future.
“Mark’s a hero of the club of course. A West Adelaide boy that then became an AFL player,” Olsen told SEN’s Dwayne’s World.
“(He’s) someone who has the absolute respect of the fan base and the club.
“As the club has gone through a difficult time this year, so it has been with the football director. Naturally, it goes with the territory.
“However, he’s an important part of the club, has been and always will be.”
Another club great in Andrew McLeod was critical of the club in 2020, saying he didn’t feel comfortable returning to the club and slamming the overall culture.
Olsen said he is yet to reach out to the two-time Norm Smith Medallist, but hopes to be open to past players.
“Andrew McLeod is another icon of the club. I haven’t had the chance to talk to Andrew in the last couple of weeks. I’ve been digesting a whole range of things,” he said.
“I’m going to put in place a process of reaching out and speaking and having discussions with people across the board to make sure I’m fully across all the issues and where we can build better relationships.”
The Crows experienced the worst season in their history in 2020, claiming the wooden spoon and losing 13 games in a row before a run of three wins at the end of the year.