Tigers look to Brittain again for coach

Brittain is one of at least six contenders vying for the job. The other candidates are assistant coaches Brian Royal, Danny Frawley, Greg Hutchison and Tony Elshaugh and former StKilda coach Ken Sheldon.

Brittain was formally interviewed for the first time by a panel of board members and officials, having already held informal discussions with general manager Jim Malone and board member Peter Welsh.

Sources said the Tigers will have completed interviews by the weekend. Frawley was interviewed on Thursday and was said to have impressed the panel.

Brittain has re-emerged as a leading candidate for a senior coaching job after a year in which his profile has dropped. Brittain had been set to win the Brisbane job until the Lions decided to pursue Leigh Matthews.

Richmond's list of candidates has been further pruned by the unavailability of former West Coast captain John Worsfold, who has signed on as an assistant coach at Carlton for the next three years. Worsfold also had been interviewed by Hawthorn.

Meanwhile, the AFL says it is seeking a new director of umpiring with both football and ``administrative experience" to replace Peter Schwab.

AFL chief executive Wayne Jackson said last night the AFL already had an umpires' coach in Rowan Sawers. ``I think it will create interest in people who've coached," he said.