Former Sheffield Shield cricketer Jamie Cox has switched to the AFL, joining St Kilda as their football performance manager.

The Saints recruited the 45-year-old as part of their football department restructure.

The former Tasmanian opening batsman and Shield games record holder was drafted by Essendon in 1987, but never played for the Bombers as he chose to pursue his cricket career.

Cox, who never made the Test team, was a national selector for five years after he retired from playing.

He was then high performance manager at the SA Cricket Association, but was sacked in May for allegedly breaching recruiting rules.

Cox has said little publicly about his controversial sacking.

He told the AFL website on Tuesday that his extensive cricket experience would help the Saints.

“I’ve always loved football – it was a sliding doors moment that took me to cricket all those years ago and I’ve stayed close to the game,” he said.

“I don’t feel as though I’ve missed too much, but I don’t come here as a football expert either.

“I’m no novice at the game, but I’m coming here to manage the football experts and get the best outcome from this group.”

Cox has followed the footsteps of former Test batsman Simon Katich, who joined Greater Western Sydney in a player development role last year and is now their football manager.

The Saints also promoted assistant coach Danny Sexton, who becomes the director of coaching and strategy after Luke Beveridge left to coach the Western Bulldogs.

St Kilda made the appointments following the departure of football boss Chris Pelchen two months ago.