AFL club Richmond are facing a massive cash shortfall approaching $1 million due to their membership numbers being way down on last year.

The Tigers are almost 5,000 members short on their figures from last year, when the recruitment of Ben Cousins provided a membership surge before the Tigers endured a wretched 2009 and finished 15th.

Richmond's membership is currently 18,620, whereas 23,500 fans had signed up a year ago.

Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale was hopeful fans would renew their memberships in what looms as a new era for the club.

The Tigers will be led this year by new coach Damien Hardwick, while veteran players Matthew Richardson, Joel Bowden, Nathan Brown and Kane Johnson all departed last year.

Richmond said their membership shortfall was not too much of a concern given the spike caused by Cousins' signing was hard to match and that the club had started its membership drive a fortnight later than from the previous year.

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