A week ago ex-South Sydney boss Peter Holmes a Court couldn't guarantee the club's future.

The club's returning chief executive Shane Richardson did, saying he wouldn't have returned to the job if he didn't believe the club had one.

Asked if he believed the famous Rabbitohs would still be around in 20 years, Richardson told the Nine Network: "I wouldn't be back in the job if I didn't believe that.

"There's unfinished business and I'm going to do my best to make sure this club's back on the winning list again."

Richardson on Monday returned to the job he had held before the privatisation of the club saw Holmes a Court and Hollywood star Russell Crowe become majority owners.

Holmes a Court, who became executive chairman following the takeover two years ago, said last week the club needed a boost in memberships to ensure its long-term survival and stepped down from his position on Monday.

Souths have been back page news all week with Holmes a Court's decision, the appointment of former premiership winning coach John Lang to help resuscitate a one-from-10 on-field performance and the backflip from Penrith star Luke Lewis on joining the club.

But Richardson said things weren't as bad as they seemed.

"It's not always the way it is, perception," he said.

"It's nowhere near as bad as people are making out. I've got great faith in (coach) Jason Taylor and great faith that the team will turn it around.

"John Lang's appointment is because I'll tell you something about rugby league and Peter Holmes a Court's learning it now.

"When you go down on your knees in rugby league, people kick you in the head, they don't help you up and you need people around you that really believe in it.

"We've got members who stuck with us through the worst situation in the world. This is not the worst situation.

"We've got a club that they can be proud of.

"We'll put it back on its feet and we'll get wins for them again but you've got to stick together and more importantly you've got to trust each other."

Richardson said the reaction had been exaggerated because of the involvement of Crowe and millionaire businessman Holmes a Court.

"I'd like to think if it wasn't Russell Crowe and Peter Holmes a Court it wouldn't be the same reaction," he said.

"It's completely over-exaggerated, the position we're in."

Richardson confirmed reports the pair had dipped into their own pockets to keep the Rabbitohs going after the club recorded a $4 million loss last year.

"(Holmes a Court) paid for things out of his own pocket, he never took a wage whatsoever, he never in any way took any money from the club in any way, shape or form," the CEO said.

"Peter put that money in to balance the books ... people who talk about him not doing it, he did it and Russell put money in to make sure the club goes forward as well."

Richardson had said he'd seen no evidence of a rumoured rift between the co-owners, who reportedly met over dinner on Tuesday night in a attempt to patch things up, but hinted that there could have been disagreements.

"Friendships are funny things from time to time, aren't they?" he said.

"Everyone makes me and (Lang) out to be great mates and everything else.

"I can tell you we've had some humdingers over the years and patched them up. Time tests friendships."

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