CROWS chief executive Steven Trigg won't quit nor be asked to resign as the club braces for penalties from the AFL over Kurt Tippett.

Adelaide chairman Rob Chapman last night endorsed Trigg to remain in his job saying: "If Steven offered me his resignation, I would not accept it today."

Chapman last night praised Trigg for initiating the AFL investigation on Tippett's side deals from his 2009 contract negotiations.

This prompted AFL investigators to claim documents at the club's West Lakes offices yesterday morning.

The investigation is expected to close next week with fines and the possible loss of draft picks to the Crows.

Trigg and former Crows football operations chief John Reid, who negotiated the side deal in 2009, also are at risk of AFL penalties.

Tippett is expected to be deregistered by the AFL. His Brisbane-based manager Peter Blucher is expected to be banned by the AFL.

Chapman last night told The Advertiser the fans' call for Trigg's head was out of line.

"You do not hang 16-year veterans of your club out to dry when we are in the middle of a review," he said.

"Steven has been our chief executive for 11 years - and he is a damn good one. He is considered one of the best in the game.

"For anyone to even suggest Steven go before we have gone through the full process of this review is not on."

Earlier, Trigg says he's trying to protect the club as the AFL probes the Crows' books.

AFL-appointed accountants arrived at the Crows' West Lakes offices today to claim material AFL salary cap watchdog Ken Wood and integrity officer Brett Clothier will need to determine the extent of payments made outside the salary cap to Tippett.

Tippett faces possible deregistration as an AFL player and the Crows could be fined and lose draft picks after admitting they had a secret deal with the star forward, who wants to be traded to Sydney.



Tippett was not traded by today's 2pm deadline and could be headed for the draft - if he is permitted by the AFL.



"Everything we are doing is in the best interest of the footy club and protection of the footy club,'' Trigg said.



Trigg said Adelaide had "initiated the investigation''.



"The extra examination is really because what this whole situation throws up is doubt and we want to eliminate doubt,'' he said.



"We've invited the AFL to send in their forensic guys, work through the whole lot and make sure, so that at the end of it, we can sit there and we can say 'right, everything is clear'.''



The Crows last Friday confessed to the AFL they struck a secret deal in 2009 with Tippett and his management to trade him to the club of his choice for a second-round draft pick.



Trigg denies legal action threat

The deal was also believed to include an agreement to pay Tippett an extra $200,000 when his contract expired.



But the Crows didn't tell the AFL of the deal - on the surface, a breach of the league's rules.



Trigg's future was in jeopardy given he helped broker the deal.



"There is lots of pressure on all sorts, but in terms of specifics, don't want to talk about it,'' he said.



"The investigation is still going - you'll ask me about people's roles and sanctions and be asked about potential outcomes, I just can't give it to you at the moment.''



The AFL has not put a timeframe on completing its investigation.



The payments relate the secret side deal written for Tippett in 2009 when he signed a three-year contract extension.



The evidence gathered today will play a major part in determining how the AFL sanctions the Crows, Tippett and his management.





media_camera Adelaide Crows CEO Steven Trigg arrives at West Lakes as investigators - who are already in the building - seize bank and computer records. Picture: Sarah Reed

Originally published as Board stands behind Trigg