Silver Ferns captain Bernice Mene says the dumping of coach Yvonne Willering had nothing to do with her decision, announced yesterday, to retire from international netball.
Mene also said today she had made her decision to quit several weeks before the surprise return of former coach Leigh Gibbs as technical director.
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Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken is due to take her first squad on tour to Jamaica next month, and must now find two new defenders with goal keep Vilimaina Davu unavailable through injury.
Mene, aged 27, said on Newstalk ZB she made her decision to retire earlier this month while on Waiheke Island in the Hauraki Gulf.
She had made the decision for herself, and not because of the recent turmoil in the sport.
Willering was dropped as Silver Ferns coach last month and replaced by Aitken in a move which upset a number of players.
However Mene said the players had spoken together and decided they had to behave professionally, and get on with playing.
"A number of us were quite shocked at the decision and quite surprised," she said.
"As players you only get to see the final decision.
"I know Yvonne wasn't happy at the time, but we decided as players, and I talked to a number of them and they were pretty positive, to keep on and be professional ... and keep playing because they love the game."
- NZPA
