IT'S BEEN a horrible year for the West Coast Eagles, but they've landed some good news with the appointment of former Melbourne coach Neale Daniher to the position of general manager of football operations.

Daniher coached the Demons for a decade, taking them to the 2000 grand final, and has been chief executive of the AFL Coaches Association for the last 12 months.

Steve Woodhouse, who previously held the title, put a proposal to West Coast CEO Trevor Nisbett to split his current job and will now concentrate on list management and player contracts.

Daniher will focus more on the team and operational components of the role, and Nisbett was thrilled to make the announcement.

"We are absolutely delighted that Neale has accepted this position with the West Coast Eagles," he said in a statement on Tuesday.

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

Daniher will officially start with the club in November.

"It's an exciting challenge and a great time to begin with the West Coast Eagles," he said. "I believe the club is well-positioned to rebound quickly from what has been a disappointing season, particularly given its proud history.

"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."

Senior coach John Worsfold said he was also happy with the appointment.

"I have been very impressed in the conversations I have had with Neale over the past couple of months," he said. "He brings to the table exactly the attributes we were looking for and [we] 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."

It's the second off-field coup for the Eagles in as many months after it secured Brisbane Lions triple-premiership captain Michael Voss as an assistant coach.