RICHMOND has started to reshape its football department for 2017 and beyond, telling two assistant coaches they will not be part of the club's plans next season.

The Tigers were required on Monday to give their assistants an indication of whether they would be re-contracted as an off-field review assisted by accountancy firm Ernst and Young looms large.

It is understood the club is keen to retain long-term assistant Brendon Lade, but the midfield stoppages coach is not certain to stay at Punt Road Oval.

Lade, who has been an assistant at Richmond for seven seasons, took over the senior coaching duties during the NAB Challenge earlier this year.

It is believed the Tigers are also committed to retaining backline coach Ben Rutten, who was awarded the inaugural Phil Walsh scholarship by the AFL Coaches' Association in March.

All clubs are encouraged by the AFLCA to notify their assistant coaches of their contract status by August 1, giving them the green light to explore opportunities if they are not guaranteed a new deal.

Despite extending coach Damien Hardwick's deal for a further two seasons in March this year, the club left the majority of assistant coaches out-of-contract at the end of 2016.

The out-of-contract group includes development coach and 2004 Port Adelaide premiership coach Mark Williams, who joined Richmond in September 2012.

The other members of Richmond's panel are forwards coach Greg Mellor, defensive structures coach Ross Smith and offensive coach Mark P Williams.

Ryan Ferguson and Andrew McQualter are development coaches, while Craig McRae was appointed as the club's VFL coach at the end of last season.