Pay off coach

In April my wife and I travelled to the Gold Coast for the Commonwealth Games, specifically the Silver Ferns. It was the culmination of years of travelling to Ferns games in New Zealand and Australia.

Our expectations for the Games were not high but to watch the Ferns in the semifinals and finals, along with the tears afterwards, was disheartening.

We attended the Constellation Cup in Auckland last year and even then it was clear there was a disconnect between coaching staff and players. That was cemented this year during the pre-Games matches in New Zealand.

So we went to the Games thinking the Ferns would be lucky to make the semis, and so it proved. The coaches did not seem to know who to have on court, some players looked out of touch and others who might have made a difference were left on the bench.

It seemed obvious that a clean-out was needed, starting with the coaches.

When a “thorough and full” review was announced we thought it might happen. Two months later we are still waiting. It seems the stumbling block is the severance terms for the head coach.

If we all have to pay a few dollars more to go to Ferns matches, so the money can be found to pay off the coach, so be it.

Time is running out. We have bought our tickets (tigers for punishment) for the Quad Series in Auckland which is not far away. Please, officialdom, give us something to look forward to.

Chris Bullen, Whakatane.