THE FOCUS on Footy group has abandoned its Richmond board challenge amidst rumblings that key member Bruce Monteath had walked away from the ticket.

Monteath, one of the two premiership Tigers on the rival ticket, is believed to have stood down in a body blow to the group's chances of taking control of the board.

The group's public relations firm, Royce Communications, confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that their push to take up to five seats on the board was now over.

"The unanimous decision of the group's seven members follows a meeting with the club yesterday after which it was declared no directors would be standing down voluntarily from the board," a spokesperson said.

"We are committed and passionate Richmond people who want the same on-field success that every Richmond fan wants (and) we had the courage to make a stand on the club’s future.

"Our intention is not to take the club to an EGM."

The group, which said it was going "into hibernation", claimed it had achieved much by putting an incredible focus on football, which "needed to be urgently addressed at Richmond".

“We challenged the board to take action. We contributed to the return of Neil Balme. We have shaken up the place. We did something," they said. 

Monteath did not return calls on Wednesday, while other members of the group referred enquiries about their solidarity onto their spokespeople.  

The 1980 premiership captain,Monteath had been Focus on Footy's link to Neil Balme, who they pledged to appoint as "CEO of football" should they be installed as a new board. 

Balme has since been appointed as the Tigers head of football under the club's existing regime.

On Tuesday, Focus on Footy leader Dr Martin HIscock claimed the group had received an indication they would have been able to secure Balme themselves.

"We were led to believe that we probably had 'Balmey'," Hiscock said on radio station SEN.   

"Bruce had been in constant contact with him. He sort of got the wink there. So that's why we went ahead with our launch."

It is understood Focus on Footy had the 100 member signatures required to call an extraordinary general meeting. 

That was a live option after their request to take "four to five" seats on the board was rebuffed following a meeting with president Peggy O'Neal and CEO Brendon Gale on Tuesday.

Focus on Footy launched 16 days ago by requesting a spill of all directors.  

Richmond's board met on Tuesday afternoon and decided to dismiss the rebel group's most recent request "in its entirety".