Netball: Support staff sparse as the Ferns gear up for series

Silver Ferns captain Casey Williams. Photo / Natalie Slade

A skeleton coaching staff will guide the Silver Ferns through their remaining five tests of the year as a result of Netball New Zealand's protracted search for Ruth Aitken's replacement.

The New Zealand team are in camp in Auckland preparing for their upcoming series against England, which begins on Monday.

But while in previous camps this year the support staff have nearly outnumbered the players, the sidelines were decidedly uncrowded at yesterday's training session at AUT's North Shore campus.

Aitken, who will remain at the helm in a caretaker role for the upcoming series against England and Australia, will be assisted by Magic coach Noeline Taurua for the five tests.

It is a very lean coaching team for the Ferns, who have previously had specialist defensive input from former assistant Waimarama Taumaunu, while Lyn Gunson provided guidance in the midcourt and Belinda Colling in the shooting end.

Strength and conditioning expert Matt Kritz, who regularly travels with the Ferns, also won't be involved for the upcoming tests, while performance analyst Bobbi Willcox will sit out the Australian tour as she is due to give birth to her second child.

"Yes, I have to say it was an empty management team bus on the way here," joked Tracey Fear, Netball New Zealand's high-performance manager.

Fear said they had opted for an uncluttered coaching set-up for the rest of the year to allow the new coach to select a management team.

But with young defenders Kayla Cullen and Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick new to the programme, the absence of a defensive coach from the set-up has raised a few eyebrows.

Taumaunu, Aitken's assistant for the past four years, opted not to be involved in next month's tests in order to concentrate on her application for the top job.

Fear insists the New Zealand side will not lack for any coaching expertise in the upcoming series.

"We've got the most experienced coach in the world leading them, and she and Wai have worked very closely together in the past on defensive strategies. And [in Noeline Taurua] we've got one of the most experienced franchise coaches on board, so the team are in good hands."

A young, inexperienced English side touched down in Auckland yesterday and will have their first training hit-out today.

Ferns V England
* Monday, October 3 - Trusts Stadium, Waitakere, 7.40pm.
* Thursday, October 6 - Stadium Southland Velodrome, Invercargill, 7.40pm.
*Both games will be live on Sky Sport 1 from 7.00pm.