THE Wests Tigers have appointed 2005 premiership-winning captain Mark O’Neill in a general manager of football role for this year.

O’Neill will assume a similar senior position to returning South Sydney supremo Shane Richardson and will be in charge of all recruitment, retention and the Tigers head coach.

The appointment is expected to be welcomed by the Tigers playing roster, who all enjoy a strong rapport with the retired Tigers forward.

It was a tough decision for O’Neill, who had only recently been promoted at NRL headquarters as head of the match review committee.