National Rugby League side The Wests Tigers began the search for an "NFL-type general manager" who will sit above head coach Jason Taylor and oversee the club's football operations, according to Michael Chammas of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. The Tigers "are in the process" of restructuring the organization, with CEO Justin Pascoe on the lookout for a GM to take charge of both the club's roster and coaching staff. While most clubs in the NRL give the head coach full control of his staff and players, the Tigers, who this week terminated the contract of football manager Phil Moss, will adopt a model commonly used in U.S. sports to "allow Taylor to focus solely on coaching." Pascoe said, "to maximize efficiency you need to have collaboration and the head coach will still be part of the decision-making process. But in saying that the very nature of a head coach is to worry about the short term, where the general manager would have a broader vision and make decisions based on what's best for the sustainability and longevity of the club." Pascoe is looking for someone to fulfill a role "similar to what Phil Gould does at the Penrith Panthers," working with Panthers Group CEO Warren Wilson. While Gould has no input in game-day tactics or selections, "he works with the head coach to determine which players to recruit or let go" (SMH, 1/16).
