Richo slams scrutiny after winless start

RICHMOND icon Matthew Richardson has attacked the media over the treatment his club has received in the wake of its 0-4 start to the season.

The club finished the 2008 season strongly and was widely tipped to move into the eight this season, but finals football now seems a remote possibility.

Coach Terry Wallace is in the last year of his five-year contract and has been the subject of much speculation regarding his future since his team lost heavily in round three to the Bulldogs.

Richardson said the media coverage was way over the top.

"The media have got a job to do, and that's what they're doing but I do think it has been a little bit over-the-top this week," he said at Punt Rd before training on Tuesday morning.

"I thought I was reading News of the World this morning – the Herald Sun or Mad Magazine with the comic strip that they're running these days, but we can't let that distract us.

"What we've got to worry about is getting out on the training track here today and working on the things that are letting us down in the games."

Richardson said he expected Wallace to see out the season.

"As far as I know, Terry is coaching the team for the rest of the year.

"All you guys can speculate all you like, but internally, we're sticking strong, we're right behind Terry.

"I'm pretty sure the president and the board have shown their support to him, and you can keep speculating all day long, but that's not for us to do."

The 34-year-old said he wasn't interested in contingency plans regarding the coaching, he was simply sticking with what he knew.

"I don't know anything about that, all I've ever heard is that Terry is going to be coaching for the rest of the year.”