Netball: Players take stock after coach axed

By JULIE ASH AND NZPA

Some leading Silver Ferns are considering their future after the shock sacking of coach Yvonne Willering.

After four years in the job Willering was dumped in favour of Paeroa teacher Ruth Aitken yesterday - a move that has shocked officials, players and fans on both sides of the Tasman.

Aitken, 45, beat three other candidates for the job - Willering, Otago's Georgina Salter and an unknown international candidate believed to be an Australian.

Netball New Zealand chief executive Shelley McMeeken struggled to give a reason for the change.

"We acknowledge that under Yvonne we have done really well and we are building, but we need to take that next step.

"We are inconsistent against Australia and we don't know how we fare against Jamaica [their next opponents in February].

"We have to go to the Commonwealth Games and the world champs next year knowing we have consistency and knowing we have taken that next step up."

She said the time frame of the Commonwealth Games and the world championships were taken into consideration before Aitken was appointed.

"There may be a slight risk, but there is also a risk staying with the same status quo.

"Ruth has a very strong analytical and strategic approach and we believe she is able to take the team to the next step."

McMeeken said there was no player involvement in the selection.

"I think it is fair to say that there have been hiccups in our team culture, certainly in the last year. But we are happy with the side now and we have a very strong team culture which we will take forward."

McMeeken said Willering, 51, was very disappointed to have missed out.

"We believe Yvonne has an incredible amount to give both nationally and internationally and [we] would be happy to talk to her about that, but I think she needs a bit of time to reflect on where she needs to go."

Silver Ferns captain Bernice Mene said she was shocked to hear that Willering had lost her job.

"Obviously most of the team are," she said. "You could see in that last series we had a really good unit."

Mene said Willering had the full support of the players.

Silver Ferns defender Linda Vagana struggled for words, saying she would make a decision on her future in the New Year.

She said other leading players were also unsure about their playing futures, but would not name them.

"I think the team were on the right track," she said. "And if anything needed to be changed it was the players' performances in crucial parts of the game.

"At this top level there is nothing in it. The coach can only do so much and then it's up to the players."

Star shooter Irene van Dyk said the Silver Ferns were not warned of the news.

"I am disappointed that Yvonne didn't get it because she helped me a lot and she was a really good coach.

"I did not believe they would make a change."

Across the Tasman, Australian coach Jill McIntosh said she did not think Willering would lose her job.

"We didn't believe Netball New Zealand would make a change at this stage, leading up to the Commonwealth Games. It was a bit of a surprise."

Although it always took time for players to adjust to a new coach's style, McIntosh said it was difficult to say if Australia's chances of defending their Commonwealth crown had improved.

"It could lift the team to another level, or it could bring them apart," she said.

"We won't know until the next time they play, but it's very interesting."

McIntosh said she did not know much about Aitken, but the time frame until the Commonwealth Games meant she did not expect any significant changes to the Silver Ferns' game plan.

"I guess it's very difficult now for Ruth to come in with that shorter span. It doesn't give her a lot of time."

Further management positions will be announced before the New Zealand squad training camp in February.

Aitken was the coach of the New Zealand A team who beat England in the Fisher and Paykel series in June and who were also unbeaten in an international tournament in Singapore recently.

Her most notable success in her more than 10 years of coaching came in the last three seasons when Waikato emerged as finalists in the national provincial tournament.

Under her guidance, Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic finished third in this year's Coca-Cola Cup.

"I believe that in the past I have shown I can develop teams with a real winning culture and I think that really made the difference," said Aitken, who has the job for the next two years.

A former Silver Fern, Aitken, married with two sons, said she has always wanted to coach the national team.

"Right from way back when I was in my late 20s, when I was coaching at Takapuna Grammar school and still playing, I wanted to coach them - it just sat there, but in this last year it has become an achievable goal."

While there are no immediate plans for a "clean-out," Aitken said players will have to assess their futures before February's tour of Jamaica.

"I think we have a Silver Ferns team that is full of experience and talented players, but I do believe we must look at consistency and mental toughness and a real variety in our game plan.

"I believe the ground work has been done and now it is the fine tuning."

Panel who made appointment

SHELLEY McMEEKEN

McMeeken has been the chief executive of Netball New Zealand for the past two years. Before that, she was a marketing manager at PriceWaterhouseCoopers and a divisional manager at Schwarzkopf. She played senior netball for Otago and Auckland and was a member of the New Zealand under-21 side. McMeeken was on the panel that reappointed Yvonne Willering two years ago.

KEREYN SMITH

Smith has been the chairwoman of the Netball New Zealand board for the past three years. She has been on the board since 1996 and has been involved with the coaching review and appointment process since 1995. She was the general manager of the Hillary Commission for five years until last year, and is now chief executive of the New Zealand Academy of Sport in the South Island.

DON TRICKER

The national men's softball coach, Tricker guided the Black Sox last year to their second consecutive world title and picked up this year's Halberg Award for New Zealand coach of the year. Tricker played for the national team from 1986-1991. It was his first time on the interview appointment panel and he is the only non-netball representative.

CARRON JERRAM

A full-time accountant, the former Silver Fern shooter Jerram played for New Zealand from 1991-1995, finishing at the world championships. Jerram is a member of Netball New Zealand's elite advisory group. It was also her first time on the panel.