ADELAIDE'S head of football David Noble is expected to be confirmed as the Brisbane Lions' new football boss in the coming days after the Crows' finals exit.

AFL.com.au understands the highly rated football chief is set to take on the role helping to restructure the Lions football department following senior coach Justin Leppitsch's sacking.

The Lions are keen to get on with appointing their new general manager of football operations, who will then sit on a five-man panel to help select the new coach.

CEO Greg Swann, club great Simon Black and list manager Peter Schwab, along with consultant and psychologist Matti Clements, will make up the selection panel.

Hawthorn's experienced general manager football operations Chris Fagan is viewed as a leading candidate for the coaching gig.

Fagan has experience coaching and playing in Tasmania, was an assistant at Melbourne and has played pivotal roles at the Hawks for all four premierships under master coach Alastair Clarkson.

Carlton's well-regarded assistant coach John Barker, who has undertaken the AFL's Level Four accreditation course, is also believed to be in the mix.

After three years coaching the Lions to 14 wins from 66 games, Leppitsch is understood to be weighing up his options for his next move, which could see him return to Richmond where he was formerly an assistant coach.

The Tigers are seeking up to five new assistants to support Damien Hardwick after Brendon Lade accepted a role working under Ken Hinkley at Port Adelaide, where Lade played in the 2004 premiership.

Leppitsch has also been linked to the vacant NAB AFL Academy coaching position as a replacement for Brenton Sanderson, who has joined close friend Nathan Buckley at Collingwood as an assistant coach.