Brendon Gale is set to stay on as chief executive at Richmond long-term, with club president Peggy O’Neal telling The Age a new deal is in the works.
Gale has held the role since 2009 and has been influential in the Tigers’ three recent flags and huge membership growth.
His success in the position has seen him touted as a candidate to potentially replace AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan, who has been in the league’s top job for more than seven years.
However, O’Neal, who has also been crucial in the club’s recent success, says a new contract is almost finalised.
“Brendon has indicated he’s going to continue, so I’m finishing up his contract now,” O’Neal said.
“The first couple of years I remember when he was CEO, he just looked terrified the entire time because we were just in such bad shape and he had a lot of things to do.
“It’s a big step up from the AFL Players’ Association because he went from that to becoming CEO of a club that needs a lot of work but he is very committed and he’s been a great leader for us.”
Gale was famously grilled on Footy Classified in 2010 of his big plans for the club, including the vision to win three flags by 2020.
Richmond’s triumph over Geelong in that year’s Grand Final delivered the club their third premiership his tenure.
The Tigers failed to go on with the job in 2021, struggling to gather any momentum during the season to see them miss the top eight.