Netball: Doubts over top job

By RICHARD BOOCK

Not for the first time in recent years, Netball New Zealand is refusing to offer a full endorsement of its national coach.

The national body has strongly denied television claims of a player revolt, but has started hedging on the chances of coach Yvonne Willering taking the Silver Ferns to South Africa.

The last time it procrastinated on its coach's future was in 1997 when NNZ president Christine Archer refused to endorse the credentials of Leigh Gibbs, who found herself surplus to requirements within the space of a fortnight.

Gibbs' replacement - Willering - was reappointed for two years after last year's world championship disappointment, and then suffered a patchy season, with a 2-1 win over the World Selection and thumping 23-goal loss to Australia.

Speculation escalated over Willering's future yesterday after both she and NNZ chief executive Shelley McMeeken refused to answer questions about whether a new coach could be needed for the November tour.

McMeeken later told the Herald that it was a matter of fact that Willering was the current New Zealand coach, but said that she did not want to lend any credibility to a rumour by commenting further.

However, she said she was completely unaware of claims that some South Island-based netballers were dissatisfied with Willering and were anxious to have her replaced.

"I don't know anything about that," she said yesterday. "We're in the middle of our regular player reviews at the moment but there's been no suggestion of a revolt. It (the rumour) was a complete surprise to us.

"As far as the Silver Ferns are concerned, Yvonne is the incumbent coach and is scheduled to take the side to South Africa. Nothing's changed on that score."

Willering yesterday questioned the credibility of television's unnamed sources, but fell short of guaranteeing that she would still be at the helm in November.

"I refuse to answer that," she said. "There's a lot of things going down right now and I want to take some time to consider what's happening. It's important to get your facts sorted from fiction, and until I get a clearer picture, I can't comment ... "

She admitted to having second thoughts about whether to continue in the role after the nail-biting world championship loss and the trials of this season, and suggested that in the final analysis she would decide her own fate.

"It's all very well having other people discussing my future, but I'm also heavily involved in that decision, and I'm constantly re-evaluating my performance."

The main problem now for the conspiracy theorists is that if NNZ was intending to appoint a new coach, there are only two main contenders, and both appear to have disqualified themselves.

Former assistant coach and Silver Ferns captain Waimarama Taumaunu yesterday denied any approaches or interest in the top job.

"I haven't had any approaches from NNZ on this matter, and if they did my reaction to replacing Yvonne would be no," she said.

" ... it was a surprise when I heard it this morning.

"I am pregnant and have other priorities."

The only other genuine contender for Willering's job seems to be Otago and New Zealand Under-21 coach Georgie Salter.

Salter reacted bitterly to Willering's reappointment last year, and hardly helped her chances of promotion when the Young Ferns bowed out of the World Youth Championships at the semifinal stage in Wales.