West Coast signs Daniher

West Coast has appointed former Melbourne coach Neale Daniher as its football operations manager.

Daniher will resume his position with the Eagles in November after serving as the chief executive officer of the AFL Coaches' Association for the past year.

The news comes just over a month after West Coast secured the services of triple premiership Brisbane Lions captain Michael Voss as an assistant coach for the next two years

"We are absolutely delighted that Neale has accepted this position with the West Coast Eagles," West Coast chief executive Trevor Nisbett said.

"We were looking for someone with a strong coaching and administrative background and identified Neale as the best person for this role."

"He is a man of impeccable character, someone who will add great value to our football club as we begin our resurgence as a powerful on-field force in the AFL."

The appointment comes after nearly a year of planning by current football operations manager Steve Woodhouse who has put together a revised structure that caters for two senior executives carrying out the role of football operations manager.

The new system sees Daniher dealing with the team and operational elements of the position while Woodhouse will stay on as the second senior executive and will take care of list management as well as player contracts.

Daniher described the proposition of serving as the Eagles' football operations manager as an exciting challenge.

"I believe the club is well positioned to rebound quickly from what has been a disappointing season," said Daniher

"The club has a terrific young list and I look forward to playing my role in assisting the club's climb back up the AFL ladder."

West Coast coach John Worsfold is looking forward to working with Daniher in 2009 and beyond.

"I have been very impressed in the conversations I have had with Neale over the past couple of months," Worsfold said.

"He brings to the table exactly the attributes we were looking for and believe he will assist us greatly in our vision for the team."

"Obviously his appointment is a key strategic development in the broad picture that we have for our club and I look forward to working with him."

The Eagles currently sit in 15th position on the AFL ladder with just four wins and 16 losses and are on track for their worst finish to a season since their inception in 1987.