More exits set to follow Southby
Silver Ferns management could face a complete cleanout with the future of their support staff far from clear.
Netball New Zealand are on the hunt for their 11th Silver Ferns head coach after Janine Southby resigned on Friday following a damning independent review into the team’s stunning fall from grace.
Assistant Yvette McCauslandDurie’s contract expired after April’s woeful Commonwealth Games campaign, where the Ferns failed to medal for the first time, finishing fourth.
The new Silver Ferns coach is likely to have a major say in who their assistant is. That may signal the end for McCausland-Durie, who coaches the Central Pulse in the national premiership.
Southby and McCauslandDurie might not be the only personnel leaving.
It is unclear what the future holds for the Ferns’ support staff team; manager Esther Molloy, performance analyst, Dr Bobby Willcox, who has been involved since 2005, medical lead, Dr Melinda Parnell, and strength and conditioning coach, Stephen Hotter.
‘‘That’s an employment issue and not something I’m going to discuss,’’ NNZ chief executive Jennie Wyllie told Stuff.
NNZ are expected to shoulder tap their preferred head coaching candidates. With the Silver Ferns squad announced on August 14 and their next assignment, the Quad Series, starting on September 15 against England in Auckland, time is ticking.
NNZ won’t rush the process and may appoint a caretaker coach to guide the side during the Quad Series. The Silver Ferns then take on Australia in a fourgame Constellation Cup series in October, which could be a more realistic start date.
NNZ will draw up a shortlist of coaching contenders in the coming days and make contact.
‘‘Given our timeframe we need to be proactive about how we move forward and it could be a shoulder-tapping process,’’ Wyllie said. ‘‘To get the right person we’re going to need to be flexible.’’
Noeline Taurua, who was not shortlisted in the final two for the Ferns’ top job in 2015, looms as the clear favourite. Southby won out over Australian Julie Fitzgerald, who was then coach of the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic.
Taurua is in her second year coaching the Sunshine Coast Lightning in Australia’s Super Netball.