Netball: Mystics ready to flash the cash

After another disappointing finish in the ANZ Championship, the Northern Mystics are already turning their attention to how they can improve their fortunes next season.

The Auckland franchise hope to attract a couple of marquee players and are in the process of looking at the balance of their squad for next year.

One of the better-performing franchises financially, the Mystics are prepared to throw around plenty of cash to boost their line-up for next season.

But with franchises unable to approach players from other teams until a week after the grand final, the first task for the Mystics will be re-signing the key talent they already have.

The Mystics are hoping to lock in star midcourter Temepara George for a further two seasons, while they are also weighing up the value in keeping English shooter Pamela Cookey around for another season.

Mystics chief executive Mark Cameron said he was keen to have Cookey return in 2010, but hinted the club was also considering the option of bringing in a defender for the import slot.

"Obviously she's one of the better attacking players around so we'd love to keep her on board. We'll be sitting down with her this week to see where she's at for next year," he said.

"Whether we re-sign Pamela or look to the other end of the court is yet to be decided."

It is believed English defender Sonia Mkoloma, ironically Cookey's opponent in last night's final-round clash between the Mystics and the Canterbury Tactix, is one of the players the Auckland side might target.

However, their attempts to snare one of the top-performing English players as an import could be rebuffed by England Netball.

There is talk the English governing body might prevent its international players from plying their trade in the ANZ Championship next season because of Commonwealth Games commitments.

Cameron said he had heard there was a possibility the England players might be unavailable next season, but had not had any official confirmation of this.