Netball: National chief springs to coach's defence

Rumblings of player unrest in the Silver Ferns were yesterday offset with a top official giving besieged coach Ruth Aitken a vote of confidence.

Netball New Zealand president Monica Leggat dismissed the comments of Donna Loffhagen that more players were reconsidering their future because Aitken was coach.

This week, captain Bernice Mene announced her retirement and veteran defender Linda Vagana, who has played 53 tests, pulled out of next month's tour of Jamaica, citing work commitments.

Loffhagen said on Monday that Aitken would effectively be "on trial" at the Silver Ferns' training camp this weekend as other players assessed their futures.

"As a person she is fantastic but I don't know what she's like as a coach, so I think it's a matter of re-assessing everything, and I think a lot of people will be doing the same leading into this camp."

Loffhagen had admonished Netball New Zealand for not consulting players before dumping Yvonne Willering as national coach.

But Leggat dismissed the prospect of a player revolt over Aitken.

"As far as I am aware Donna Loffhagen is not an official spokesperson for Netball New Zealand or the Silver Ferns.

"People might dine out on the emotive stuff, but it is not hindering Ruth at all.

"She is a very capable woman who recognises the task ahead of her and she is getting on with it to the best of her ability."

Leggat said she fully respected Mene's decision to retire.

"I'm just a little disappointed at the way she went about making that decision. It was disappointing that the first indication we had was via a magazine stand in a supermarket," she said, referring to a women's magazine report on the retirement.

"But I don't think for one minute they [Silver Ferns] are in crisis. They go into camp on Thursday afternoon for an intensive and well-planned weekend."

On Vagana, Leggat said there was uncertainty from the outset.

"She has not withdrawn in total. She has taken up a new position. We have to respect that sort of responsible attitude."

Vagana, who first represented New Zealand in 1991, said her decision was not linked to the controversial axing of Willering a month ago.

"That had nothing to do with it. I just didn't feel I could ask for time off at such a crucial time in my job."

The 30-year-old, who works in marketing at the Auckland University of Technology, said that until now, netball had taken priority over her job.

But her career had to come first at some stage.

Aitken is due to name a Silver Ferns team of up to 14 on Monday for a February-March tour of Jamaica, while the New Zealand A side will play a $31,000 tournament across the Tasman in Newcastle.

- NZPA