Aitken, who has been at the helm of the Ferns for a decade, finishes her contract at the end of the month and has been careful not to drop any hints about whether she will seek reappointment, only saying that the role is not one she will "give away lightly".
Netball NZ chief executive Raelene Castle has already confirmed the national body will "go to market" and open the job up to applications.
A savvy operator, Aitken is expected to opt to reapply for the position only if she knows she has the support of the Netball NZ executive.
Should she decide to call it quits, her assistant for the past four seasons, Waimarama Taumaunu, is the frontrunner to step into the top job. But Netball NZ will need to give other coaches the opportunity to throw their hat in the ring and be transparent with their appointments process.
The Silver Ferns squad will go into camp in Auckland on September 6, which makes it unlikely that a new coach could be in place before the team assembles. Many believe it would make sense for Aitken to stay on in a caretaker role for the test series against England and Australia in October, allowing the new coach to ease their way in.
* Australian shooter Catherine Cox will link up with former Diamonds coach Norma Plummer at the West Coast Fever for next year's ANZ Championship after a falling-out with the NSW Swifts.
Rumours were swirling at last month's world champs in Singapore that Cox, who had captained the Sydney side since the competition began, would be on the move next year after being told by incoming coach Lisa Beehag her services were no longer required at the franchise.
However, when asked about these rumours Netball New South Wales insisted Cox was still a key part of plans for 2012.
They reiterated these comments earlier in the week after Cox spoke about her falling-out with Beehag, and said the Australian vice-captain was still a key part of their plans. But Cox clearly already had other ideas.
