RICHMOND will appoint a new skipper ahead of the 2009 AFL season after Kane Johnson announced on Wednesday that he would step down from the role as captain of the club.

Johnson, who took over the captaincy in 2005, led the Tigers in 77 matches but said he believed the time was right to hand over the reins to a younger teammate.

“It has been an enormous privilege to serve as captain over the past four years but the time has come to hand over to someone else,” Johnson said.

“We are a young and emerging side and the timing is right for generational change. I still see myself with a role to play in terms of mentoring the younger players and I look forward to helping out the new captain, whoever that may be.”

Tigers coach Terry Wallace paid tribute to Johnson’s leadership throughout his five-year stint in the top job.

“Kane took over the captaincy at a difficult time and helped developed our young team,” Wallace said.

“Kane has an extraordinary presence both on and off the field and will continue to be a highly respected player at our club.

“His work ethic is second to none and his positive influence over the playing group will remain.”

Richmond has worked hard to develop more leaders in recent years, and the big question in coming weeks – when the club expects to make an announcement on the next skipper –will be who will take over the captaincy.

Vice-captains Chris Newman and Nathan Foley would appear to be the front runners, although it remains to be seen if the Tigers appoint a short-term leader – such as favourite son Matthew Richardson – to fill the role for a season or two before appointing a younger player for a longer period.