OUTGOING NRL referees boss Daniel Anderson has been confirmed as the Parramatta Eels' new general manager, football operations today.

The widely-expected move was confirmed by the Eels this morning. Meanwhile, the NRL announced that former top whistleblower Tony Archer would take over as interim NRL Referees Elite Performance Manager after Anderson quits the job at the end of the Rugby League World Cup.

Anderson, who coached the Eels to the 2009 grand final only to be sacked after a poor 2010 season, said he was pleased to be rejoining Parramatta. He said he aimed to allow new Eels coach Brad Arthur to focus purely on rebuilding the team after consecutive wooden spoon seasons.

"I think the pressures nowadays on the head coach at any NRL club are extensive and the scrutiny is very tough on coaches," Anderson said.

"The less distractions they have from the mundane, the administrative components of their job, the better. I see me being a pivotal part in allowing him to focus and free his creativity as a coach.

"Meanwhile the focus for myself and the team in the area of Parramatta is also to generate quality players that will be able to put pressure on Brad, as the Head Coach, to have to consider them for NRL."

Anderson, who also took the Warriors to the 2002 grand final, has been known to be unhappy with the high-profile NRL refs job, with the whistleblowers and video officials attracting relentless criticism after another poor season.

The stern mentor lasted just one season in the job, after he took over from the sacked Bill Harrigan and Stuart Raper.

Like Arthur, Anderson is a Parramatta junior and said he was desperate to rebuild the battered reputation of the club.

media_camera Daniel Anderson with the Parramatta Eels during 2009 grand final week. Picture: Phil Hillyard

"Brad and I are both similar in that we have an obligation to the Parramatta club to foster and enhance rugby league so our community is proud of us. I know from living and growing up in the area how important the rugby league culture is to the community, and I want to see the Eels rising again," he said in a statement.

Eels chief executive Scott Seward said Anderson's appointment could help reverse the club's fortunes.

"Daniel brings a wealth of experience to his position as general manager of football operations and will play a pivotal role in restructuring our football department into a modern-day club," Seward said.

"The General Manager of Football Operations will look after the pathways, the performance, the development of our players, the recruitment and retention, and make sure we have pathways for our players here to play at their very best.

media_camera Daniel Anderson with the Parramatta Eels during 2009 grand final week. Picture: Phil Hillyard

"We are looking to transform our football side into a powerhouse and Daniel's experience as a football coach and a rugby league administrator makes him more than capable of doing that."

NRL head of football Todd Greenberg paid tribute to Anderson after a rocky stint and said the structure of its referees unit would be reviewed. A potential replacement for Anderson is former match review committee chief and top referee Greg McCallum.

"There is no more important area in the game than officiating," Greenberg said.

"From the grass roots to the NRL there is a real need for people to appreciate and respect the importance of the role.

"Daniel has done a fine job in establishing a genuine high performance unit for the referees and he has left us a really solid foundation on which we can build.

"There are a number of options we could now look at in terms of a game-wide approach to refereeing and it is worth taking the time to form a long-term strategic view.

"Daniel will complete his commitments with the World Cup and Tony has agreed to the interim role during our review process.

"We are sorry to see Daniel leave and we thank him for what he has achieved but we also need to look at the chance to take what we have learnt this year and apply it to building an even stronger framework in the future."