New Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale is set to have a say in the appointment of the Tigers' new coach after returning to the AFL club he served with distinction as a player.

AFL players' union boss Gale was announced on Monday as the Tigers' new chief executive, replacing Steven Wright, who has quit because of ill health.

Gale will take over from the end of this season.

His first task at Tigerland will be having input into the appointment of a fulltime coaching replacement for Terry Wallace.

"Given the importance of that decision, I would certainly have an involvement in the appointment of the coach," Gale said.

"I think it's extremely important for me and the coach."

Gale, who played more than 200 games for the Tigers, is set to be involved at the final stage of the coach-hunting process.

Current caretaker coach Jade Rawlings, ex-Kangaroos coach Dean Laidley, Essendon assistant Alan Richardson and Port Adelaide assistant Damien Hardwick are understood to be among the short-listed candidates to coach the Tigers next year and beyond.

Gale has run the AFL Players' Association (AFLPA) for the past five years.

But he was sounded out about a return to Punt Road after Wright flagged his intention to stand aside following his battle with a debilitating nervous system disorder, Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

"The board was very fortunate to have secured someone of Brendon's calibre," Tigers president Gary March said.

"He brings a wealth of industry experience to the club for which he once played."

Wright, a former Australian Grand Prix chief executive, has helped restore Richmond to a respectable financial position in his five-year tenure, with another profit expected for this season.

But he said the long hours involved in running the football club were taking their toll on his health.

"At the time the specialist told me that following my illness I would need to work in a low hours, low stress environment," Wright said.

"Unfortunately, the 24-hour seven-day pressure cooker football environment is the exact opposite.

"Over the past 12 months, in particular, my body has been telling me to slow down."

AFLPA general manager Matt Finnis will take over from Gale as the players' union's interim chief executive until a new appointment is made.

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