Lethlean bombs out as Blues spring Liddle surprise

THE man who helped build Richmond into a financial powerhouse has beaten Simon Lethlean for Carlton’s chief executive job.

Former Geelong player Cain Liddle will begin work at Ikon Park on Monday after the club yesterday confirmed it had surprisingly appointed the Tigers’ customer officer over former AFL operations manager Lethlean.

Lethlean was seen as hot favourite to join the Blues, but could now contend for the vacant Collingwood CEO position. AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan has endorsed Lethlean for a senior role at a club in the wake of his resignation from league headquarters in July over an inappropriate relationship with a female staffer. The Blues have maintained they would follow a stringent process with the assistance of directors Chris Judd and Kate Jenkins.

Liddle joined Richmond in 2010 and has played a key role in the Tigers’ staggering membership growth, helping double their tally from 36,000 to 75,000 this year.

Liddle, who played four games for the Cats in 1994-95 and also coached Calder Cannons, replaces Steven Trigg.

He was also responsible for ticketing, retail, licensing and corporate revenues at Richmond and was general manager of Allied Leisure, the recreation and aquatics business which will help deliver Richmond more than $15 million in revenue this year.