Property developer Mr Russo, who has now moved to join forces with a group of prominent and disenchanted Tiger supporters, is understood to have used Mr Khoury to settle building industry disputes.

Mr Russo, who has unofficially mentored senior Richmond players interested in property, has been cut loose by the club after sponsoring the Tigers' VFL team to the tune of $150,000 a year.

Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale recently wrote to Mr Russo officially placing an end to the financial arrangement at the close of season 2016. Mr Russo, who failed in a bid to join the board in 2015, has contributed $150,000 annually to the club.

Key members of the group behind the push for a bloodless coup at Tigerland were scheduled to meet Mr Russo again on Wednesday night although Fairfax Media understands a level of nervousness has arisen regarding Mr Russo's suitability to be part of a rival ticket.

Questions have also been raised about club agitator IT executive Leon Davies, who connected Mr Russo with members of long-standing Richmond families including the Mandies, the Ralphs and the Silks who were at the Malvern Hotel last Wednesday night.

Mr Davies shared anti-Muslim posts on his Facebook page. The posts date from October 2015 through until last month but have since been removed.

Mr Davies confirmed he had shared the Facebook posts but denied this was racially motivated. "This has nothing to do with religion and I'd be disappointed if it was seen that way," he said. "I've got friends who are Muslims."

Some of the posts shared by Leon Davies, which have since been removed.

Mr Russo addressed the group of about 25 disenchanted supporters at the Malvern Hotel and also presented some key figures with the Gale letter which informed Mr Russo his financial support to the club was no longer required.

In a set of relationships which AFL insiders say poses questions about his fitness to become a club director Mr Russo not only has ties to Mr Khoury, but many of Melbourne's underworld identities.

Several years ago, the Purana gangland taskforce was told by a credible witness that Mr Russo had used Mr Khoury to demand a Melbourne architecture firm settle a financial dispute on terms favourable to Mr Russo.

It was not alleged that any laws were broken, but Mr Khoury's presence at a meeting to discuss the financial dispute was viewed dimly by police. Multiple sources confirmed that Mr Russo has used Mr Khoury as a consultant.

Mr Russo dismissed this, stating that while he had a childhood association with Mr Khoury, he has never had any business dealings with him.

Mr Gatto, Mr Khoury and another Gatto associate Tom Karas have all denied financial links to Mr Russo and his Caydon Developments.

Mr Khoury was also named in a 2003 Australian Crime Commission report as a person who regularly associates with organised crime identities.

John Khoury and Mick Gatto. Photo: Erin Jonasson

Since 2011, Mr Russo has been a director of at least 38 companies, all linked to developments around Melbourne. Last December, Fairfax Media reported Victorian Building Authority investigations into his previous projects, including findings in 2014 by Boroondara Council's municipal surveyor on a Hawthorn apartment block built by Mr Russo's companies.

The council found a series of serious fire safety and other faults with the building, which the owners' corporation paid about $1.4 million to resolve.

Richmond president Peggy O'Neal, one of the five directors targeted by the group, has indicated she has no plans to step aside although she revealed recently that the Tigers were looking at introducing fixed terms for board members.

Ms O'Neal, long-serving director John Mathies and lawyer Kerry Ryan are all up for re-election at the end of the season with Mathies at least one director expected to step down.

Refusing to respond on Wednesday to reports of a board challenge, Ms O'Neal recently told club members that the board was undergoing a business review undertaken by consultants the Hay Group.

The Tigers president, who has authorised a soon-to-be-completed Ernst and Young review into Richmond's football operation, has indicated she wishes to remain at the helm at least until the end of 2017. She is scheduled to end her silence regarding board agitators in radio interviews before Friday night's clash with Collingwood.

with Chris Vedelago