ST KILDA coach Alan Richardson says he can focus solely on keeping his relationship with his players strong after assistant Danny Sexton was appointed the club's director of coaching.
Sexton was promoted this week from midfield assistant coach to the role new Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge was appointed to fill before he won the job at Whitten Oval.
It's a step up in responsibility for Sexton, who will now oversee the management and development of the coaching panel as well as concentrate on the team's ball movement in what has been described as a "multi-layered" position.
He will also help analyse the opposition as part of the strategy component of the job.
Richardson – who filled the same role for a season at Port Adelaide under coach Ken Hinkley – said Sexton's appointment meant he could concentrate on the specifics of his own job.
"It just allows the coach to coach – to work really closely with the playing group, the leadership group, and understanding the development and the methodology of the coaches is significant for someone else like Danny," Richardson told AFL.com.au on Tuesday.
"All that needs coordination, and that will be a significant part of Danny's role so I can continue to have and form strong relationships with the playing group.
"I just don't want to ever be taken away from that.
"I see it as a really significant facet of my style of coaching and I just want to make sure that continues."
The promotion of Sexton to the director of coaching and strategy position came as the Saints appointed former first-class cricketer and experienced sports administrator Jamie Cox as their new football manager.
Other changes to the Saints' coaching panel have included the departure of former Melbourne, Sydney Swans and Collingwood ruckman Darren Jolly.
The 237-game player, who worked part-time with the club's big men this season, has decided to pursue a full-time career in building after appearing on home renovations television show The Block this year.
He has been replaced by Western Jets assistant coach Adam Skrobalak, who will work with the club's ruckmen on a part-time basis.
"Given we've got young rucks it's a pretty important role and he's been working with rucks for a while now," Richardson said.
"We had a few to choose from and he was the standout, so we're pretty excited to have him on board."
Skrobalak has previously held a VFL assistant coaching role – forward line and development - at Port Melbourne under Gary Ayres before moving to the Jets, where he worked with the midfield, rucks and backline.
He has also coached the AFL multicultural squad and the Vic Metro under 17s team.
The Saints will look to appoint another assistant coach either this week or early in the New Year.
They are keen to add a backline coach to work with part-time appointment Danny Frawley but could end up reshuffling their current structure that includes Adam Kingsley and Aaron Hamill depending on the best candidate's skill set.
Former Western Bulldog Lindsay Gilbee has taken on more responsibility in working with the defenders since David Teague moved on at the end of the season.
