KEY POINTS:
Central have signed Singapore-based New Zealander, Kate Carpenter, to coach their team for the inaugural Tasman Trophy netball competition beginning next year.
Carpenter has signed a three-year-deal with the new franchise formed from the Eastern, Western, Wellington and Tasman regions.
The other New Zealand franchise coaches named so far are Robyn Broughton for the South (Otago/Southland), Yvonne Willering for the North (North/Auckland- Waitakere/Counties-Manukau) and Helen Mahon-Stroud for Canterbury.
The remaining franchise which combines Waikato and Bay of Plenty have yet to name their coach.
Carpenter, a former Canterbury Flames development coach, coached Papua New Guinea in the late nineties and has been in charge of Singapore since 2003.
Carpenter will join the Central region once her commitments with Singapore finish at the world championships in November.
The 17-week semi-professional Tasman
Trophy is scheduled to begin in April next year, replacing the New Zealand's National Bank Cup and Australia's Commonwealth Bank Trophy.
Australia will also field five teams in the championship.
- NZPA