Canterbury Flames netball coach Margaret Foster is considering a coaching job with Fiji.
"It's something that looks appealing, but I've only had preliminary discussions with Fiji at this stage," Foster told NZPA today.
Foster, 35, would replace Australian Megan Simpson, who resigned abruptly last week just 11 months out from
the World Cup which Fiji is hosting.
Short-listed for the job that Simpson took last year, Foster said she had expressed an interest in applying for the Fiji position.
"For me, coaching an international side would be appealing," she said. "It's World Cup year."
Former Fiji skipper and Silver Ferns defender Vilimaina Davu had given the Flames "very good service down here" for five years and Foster said she would enjoy "putting something back into her people as such".
"How many more Vilimainas are there running around in Fiji?"
Foster said it would be interesting to find out.
A mid-court specialist, Foster wore the Silver Ferns colours for five years from 1992, coached the New Zealand A team and is a Silver Ferns selector.
She coached the Flames in 2000, returned as a player under coach Leigh Gibbs in 2001 and has been head coach since 2002.
Foster said she hadn't yet talked to her board about the Fiji opportunity because there was no need to at this stage.
"I haven't gone through the decision-making process with Fiji. I've expressed an interest, that's the only thing I've done."
Foster said she might be in a position to make a decision either way by the end of the week.
"It looks appealing and it could be something that I'd look at doing."
Foster said she would find it hard leaving the Flames and she would explore the possibility of coaching both the Flames and Fiji.
"It could be a combined effort.
"I'm very passionate about Canterbury red and black, but internationally, it would be a fantastic opportunity," she said.
"It'd be neat."
Netball Fiji president Alice Tabete told the Fiji Times newspaper there was a lot of interest in the national coaching position.
"I've had a lot of calls coming in already from both Australia and New Zealand and if a local is interested he or she must be qualified," Tabete said.
Simpson, a former Netball Australia coaching director, said her resignation was a difficult decision but the lack of financial backing left her no choice.
- NZPA
