Who is Alan Richardson?

The 48-year-old, annointed as the St Kilda's new coach, is one of the most respected men in the business with an innate ability to nurture and develop AFL talent.

He has experience at five AFL clubs including powerhouses Collingwood, Essendon and Carlton.

Richardson entered AFL coaching ranks in 2003 when he joined the Western Bulldogs as an assNews_Rich_Media: Former Port Adelaide assistant Alan Richardson speaks to the media for the first time since being unveiled as the new St Kilda coach.istant.

He spent three years at Whitten Oval before accepting a position at under Mick Malthouse at Collingwood.

Richardson, who played 114 games with the Magpies between 1987-96, moved to Essendon as an assistant before short stint at Carlton.

Richardson was one of the casualties following Malthouse's appointment at Visy Park.

SAINTS APPOINT RICHARDSON

Most recently, Richardson worked alongside Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley in helping transform the Power from basket case to finalist in under 12-months.

And he has plenty of supporters in his corner.

Hinkley described Richardson's impact at Alberton as "extraordinary".

"I cannot speak highly enough of Alan Richardson," Hinkley told the Herald Sun in September.

"What he's been able to do with the players has just been extraordinary, the way he communicates with them..."

Veteran commentator Brian Taylor once described his former Collingwood teammate as 'the best teacher of football in Australia'.

And last night, Fox Footy analyst David King endorsed Richardson as the perfect candidate to help rebuild St Kilda.

Richardson, like his mentor Hinkley, has applied for, and failed to snare several senior posts including Essendon and St Kilda, who overlooked him for Scott Watters in 2012.

FACT FILE

Alan Richardson

D.O.BMay 17, 1965

Recruited from: East Burwood

Position: Defender

PLAYING

Collingwood (1987-1996) 114 games, 10 goals

COACHING

2003-05 - Western Bulldogs assistant coach

2006-07 - Collingwood development manager

2008-10 - Essendon assistant coach

2011-12 - Carlton assistant coach

2013 - Port Adelaide assistant coach; replaced Ken Hinkley (illness) as senior coach for one match (Round 6 against North Melbourne).