Background
The thorough Club review process was undertaken by Lions Chief Executive Michael Bowers and Senior Coach Michael Voss in collaboration with former Adelaide Crows General Manager of Football Operations John Reid and Organisational Specialist Terry Coyne, who were appointed to the review panel on behalf of the Lions' Board.
For the past five weeks, the review panel have closely analysed the Club's staff, structure and operations in an effort to improve overall performance.
The final review document has revealed that the Club was under-resourced and required the introduction of new roles to enable the Football Department to operate more effectively.
As a result, the Club has created a range of new positions within its Football Department and will now embark on a comprehensive recruitment strategy to find the best people to fill these roles.
General Manager of Football
The key appointment from the review will be the senior position of General Manager of Football, reporting to the Club's CEO and the Board at its monthly meetings, who will work alongside Senior Coach Michael Voss.
In conjunction with his direct reports, the General Manager of Football will be responsible for all off-field administrative aspects of the Club's football operations including list management, physical performance, player welfare, player development and the newly created Football Administration Manager role filled by long-time Lions employee Nicole Duncan.
Review panel member John Reid will fulfil the role of General Manager of Football on a part-time basis until the Club finds a suitable full-time candidate.
Coaching staff
The appointment of the General Manager of Football will provide Senior Coach Michael Voss with greater support and allow him to focus solely on working with his coaching staff to coach the players.
Voss' coaching staff will also be expanded to include two additional Assistant Coaches and a dedicated Game Analyst and Assistant Game Analyst.
Former Brownlow Medallist and East Fremantle Coach Shane Woewodin has already been appointed as one of the Club's new Assistant Coaches with the other Assistant Coach position currently in the process of being filled.
The new Assistant Coaches will work with Jade Rawlings, Adrian Fletcher and Beau McDonald in the expanded coaching department.
Former Performance Analysis Manager Jarrod Harkness will move to the newly created Game Analyst position that has been created to work with the coaching staff and players.
All coaches and game analysts will report directly to Senior Coach Michael Voss.
Welfare and development
The Club's welfare and development - both on and off the field - has been ramped up as well.
Manny Lynch has moved to the vacated position of Welfare Development Manager with responsibilities in developing the team's leadership and culture from an off-field perspective.
Craig McRae has advised the Club that he will be moving back to Melbourne for family reasons and his role as Head of Player Development will be filled by former Port Adelaide Development Manager Darren Trevena.
A further position will be created to assist both the Welfare Development Manager and Head of Development.
The Club is also searching for a dedicated coach of the Lions Reserves side.
Physical performance
Recently appointed Physical Performance Manager and former Adelaide Crows player Brett Burton will take on the responsibility of coordinating the preparation of our players for the 2011 Season after joining the Club last month.
Burton will oversee the Lions' entire Physical Performance program which incorporates the strength and conditioning coaches, physical performance analysts, physiotherapists, doctors, trainers and dieticians.
The Club will provide Burton with an additional strength and conditioning coach.
The Lions Performance Analysis area will welcome the experienced James Hanish - also from the Adelaide Crows - who will take on the Performance Analysis role vacated by Jarrod Harkness' move to Game Analyst.
Club administration
It's important to note that the need for additional support does not rest solely within the Club's Football Department.
The Club's administration team will also be equipped with extra resources that will be supported by a new staffing and organisational structure. A strategic planning process is currently underway with input from the CEO, Terry Coyne and the Board.
Club comment
The new structure has been designed to provide the Club with a framework from which to build and improve overall performance from 2011 and beyond.
Lions Chairman Angus Johnson believes the review process will prove to be a landmark moment in the Club's history.
"This is the most thorough review process we've undertaken of our day-to-day operations since Leigh Matthews joined the Club in late 1998," Mr Johnson said.
"Our members and supporters can be confident that no stone has been left unturned in our commitment to improve as a Football Club."
"We believe that the restructure will help better define people's roles and boundaries within the organisation as well as provide the necessary resources required to complete their jobs to the highest possible standard."
"Some staff have obviously moved onto other roles or left the Club recently and we thank them for their service."
"We are confident that we now have the right structure in place and are committed to recruiting the best people for the vacant roles within our Football Department. We will advise our members and supporters of their appointments as they happen."
