Netball: Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic coach Margaret Forsyth steps down as head coach

Margaret Forsyth has stood down as head coach of the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic. Photo / Photosport

Former international Margaret Forsyth won't coach the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic in next year's ANZ Premiership after parting company with the franchise.

Forsyth, who led the Magic during the first two years of the national league, said she was notified the board would be investigating other coaching options and decided not to reapply for the position.

"My vision and values, I think, are different to the board's and the direction they were heading," Forsyth told Radio Sport.

"I wasn't sure of the direction of the board and [have] had very little engagement with the board throughout the year other than the letter saying that they were going to go to market."

Fellow former Silver Fern Amigene Metcalfe has been named the side's new head coach after serving as their high-performance coordinator and, more recently, assistant coach during the Premiership.

Under Forsyth, the Magic have struggled on the national stage with just a 40 per cent win rate from two seasons. Having been among the powerhouses of the competition, the Magic finished fifth this season — the lowest placing in their 11-year history — with only five wins from 15 games.

Forsyth, however, backed her coaching and said she had a three-year plan in mind for the young team that she felt the franchise didn't recognise.

"My vision for the team is it's about growing a young team. I picked up the reins two years ago and didn't have much choice other than grow a young team and in my mind success doesn't happen overnight," she said.

"Success is certainly about results, but success and winning are about personal awareness and personal development ... those were the things important to me as a coach."

Magic chief executive Rohan West said he wanted to thank Forsyth for her commitment in roles which included performance manager, assistant and head coach.

"She is a legend of the game," West said. "We want to thank Margaret for her commitment, passion and knowledge she has brought to the zone."