Netball: Willering expected to retain Ferns role

By SUZANNE McFADDEN

It took Yvonne Willering 10 years and four attempts before she became coach of the Silver Ferns.

So Georgina Salter, making her second assault on New Zealand netball's top job, may have to wait her turn.

That, of course, is not a reason to hand the job on a plate to Willering. But she has to be the top contender for the two-year tender announced today.

The two women who debuted together for the Silver Ferns in 1974 are the only candidates for the position.

Willering, who has been in charge since assuming a caretaker role at the end of 1997, has come under scrutiny for her performance this past season.

The statistics look good. Her record for 1999 was 14 wins, one draw and one loss - the unforgettable one-goal world championship final defeat by Australia, which sparked critics' questions about Willering's style.

Willering outpointed Salter, and former Auckland coach Marlene Flavell, when she won the job at the end of the 1997 season. She lost out to Lyn Gunson (Parker) and Leigh Gibbs before she got a foot in the door.

Salter, a mother-of-three from Oamaru, is a strong opponent. Her provincial record in the past few years has been outstanding with Otago, winning the national provincial and franchise league titles last year.

She is now the New Zealand under-21 coach, but last month's tour of England - where her team finished fourth of four in an age-group tournament - may count against her.

If Salter gets the senior job, she will have to relinquish her role with the under-21s, who will play in the World Youth Cup in Wales in July.

"I'd probably try to work out a solution so that I don't leave my 21s completely," she said when she put her name forward.

Both candidates have been put through what Netball New Zealand describe as an "exhaustive review" by a four-person selection panel.

Olympic gold medallist Ramesh Patel, the chief executive of New Zealand Hockey, was invited in as an independent panellist. Former Silver Fern Margaret Forsyth, Netball New Zealand chairwoman Kereyn Smith and new chief executive Shelley McMeeken made up the rest of the panel.

Willering and Salter had to make written presentations before being interviewed. The panel's recommendation went to NNZ's executive board. It is understood the candidates were told of the result last night.

The Silver Ferns manager will also be named today.

It will be a quieter year for the New Zealand team in 2000 - the Australians do not want to play a series so soon after the world championships, and there is talk of England and Fiji visiting.