St Kilda great Nick Riewoldt has backed embattled coach Alan Richardson and says he will not join the AFL club's board for now.
Riewoldt has also hit back at claims that if was to become a board member, he would engineer Richardson's dismissal, saying they are irresponsible.
Speculation is rife about the Saints after their horrible season, when they went backwards and finished in the bottom four.
Andrew Bassat has replaced Peter Summers as president, while several assistant coaches are gone.
Riewoldt said on Thursday night that he met with Richardson last week and it went well.
"I'm a St Kilda person, so I will support all of the incumbents, all the people in the positions (at the club)," Riewoldt told AFL360.
"So in that sense, yeah, Richo has my support."
The former Saints captain, who retired last year, said Richardson invited him to his office last week and they spoke about football and the team.
"We have a good relationship," Riewoldt said.
"At times, as a captain and a coach, we would challenge each other really, really strongly and that was healthy.
"It was a great conversation.
"Our relationship is what it is and it's never really been an issue."
Riewoldt said it was not the right time for him to join the Saints board, adding he had spoken to Bassat several times in the last few weeks.
He vehemently denied media speculation that he is proving pivotal to whether Richardson keeps his job.
"Apparently I'm the hatchet man," Riewoldt said ruefully.
"To suggest I have an axe to grind, I found that really unfair.
"I have a job in the media to call things as I see it - it's been really tough at various stages this year to talk about the Saints.
"But to say I've gone over the top with my criticism is not accurate.
"To attack my integrity and suggest it's because I have an axe to grind, is completely irresponsible and unfair and unsubstantiated."
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