Neil Craig is confident Essendon’s new football structure implemented on Tuesday afternoon will be the best setup for the club moving forward.

Craig was elevated to the position of General Manager – Football Performance to work alongside Rob Kerr who was appointed General Manager – Football Operations.

The re-structure of the club’s football department will see clear reporting lines in place with both Craig and Kerr to hold positions on the club’s executive.

“As it turned out and as the process evolved the club has come up with this relatively new structure,” Craig said.

“After a lot of discussion between myself and Xavier Campbell (Chief Operating Officer) it made sense to me,”

The former Adelaide and Melbourne coach joined the club in November in the role of Head of Coaching Development and Strategy but has been elevated to this new position in charge of the club’s coaching and high performance staff.

“It sits comfortably with me, particularly with the role that I am in which is performance,” Craig said.

“I have spent most of my footy life in the performance side of a football club and previously to that it was with the sports science with the Australian cycling team at Olympic Games and World Championships.”

“I am really comfortable with the performance side of the football club and the philosophy, standards and accountability required with that.”

Craig and Kerr have already held discussion about how their respective roles will play out within the new look department.

“For the two roles a lot of our discussion was about clarity to start with, although there will be some cross over but I am looking forward to working with Rob in that situation,” Craig said.

“In the structure that we have got all of the coaches report to me, the development coaches report to me and the high performance team.”

Craig said he was looking forward to working alongside James Hird when he returned as senior coach in 2015.

“It is well documented that James is coming back and I see no reason why that would change,” he said.

“It will need some really strong and open communication to make sure that is a smooth transition for everyone in the Essendon family.”

“I am not interested in power struggles I am interested in having a good strong professional relationship. Ego, trust and clarity are three key issues in any high performing environment."