Netball: Trio challenge Willering for job

By JULIE ASH

Three candidates will challenge Yvonne Willering for the post of Silver Ferns coach.

Netball New Zealand confirmed yesterday that Willering, Ruth Aitken and Georgina Salter have applied, but they did not identify the fourth candidate, believed to be Australian.

The applicant wants her name kept confidential.

Australia is one of the few countries that could supply a coach with the necessary credentials.

Netball Australia executive director Pam Smith said she had heard strong rumours that an Australian had applied, but was not sure who it was.

"It wouldn't be [Australian coach] Jill McIntosh or [under-21 coach] Norma Plummer," she said.

"It's likely to be one of the state coaches."

When contacted, the big Australian netball associations had no idea if anyone within their ranks had applied, but they were quick to suggest the names of former national coach Joyce Brown and present assistant coach Lisa Beehag.

However, Netball Australia denied that either was chasing the job.

Adelaide Thunderbirds coach Marg Angove said she did not know if an Australian had applied.

"But it wouldn't surprise me if someone had - there are a lot of good people here who would love to be a national coach."

Fellow Australian Maria Lynch, coach of North Harbour's Force, said she was not in the running.

Netball New Zealand chief executive Shelley McMeeken was happy with the number of applicants, which is a record.

"The role of Silver Ferns coach is one of the most coveted in netball," she said. "The standard of candidates we have received reflects this."

Aitken has had considerable success with the New Zealand A side.

She has also coached the Waikato provincial team and Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic in the Coca-Cola Cup competition.

Salter's long career includes two stints coaching the New Zealand under-21 team, as well as the Otago Rebels and Auckland Diamonds Coca-Cola Cup teams, and the Otago provincial side.

Willering, the national coach since 1997, has an international record of 39 wins, one draw and 11 losses.

The successful applicant for the two-year term will be named on December 20.

* Black Sox softball coach Don Tricker and former Silver Fern Carron Jerram have been appointed to the Netball NZ coach appointment panel, which also includes board chairwoman Kereyn Smith and McMeeken.