Southern Steel fans could know the new head coach of the franchise as soon as today.
Netball South chief executive Lana Winders told the Otago Daily Times the process of finding Janine Southby's replacement was ''very, very close'' to being completed.
''I think we are going to hopefully be in a position to make an announcement either [today] or tomorrow,'' she said.
Applications for the job closed on November 16, less than two weeks after Southby left the job after being appointed Silver Ferns coach.
Winders had hoped to have a replacement by the start of the month, but was not sure if the new coach would start before Christmas.
Southby will be available to help with any transition period until Christmas.
Several people have been linked to the job, including assistant coach Reinga Te Huia, former co-coach Natalie Avellino and former Canterbury Flames coach Margaret Foster.
Dunedin coach Deb Tasi-Cordtz and former Dunedin coach Lauren Piebenga are among other possible candidates.
Netball South is also in the process of finding a coach for its team in the recently announced national league, which will run in conjunction with the ANZ Championship next year. Applications for the job closed on November 20, but the interview process has not yet started.
''We have got some pretty good candidates for that,'' Winders said.
''But I haven't activated the interview stage of that process because my key focus has been the Steel.
''But we will be lining that process up this week.''
Winders had hoped to have a coach appointed in time to hold a trial and assemble a squad before Christmas, but conceded there might not now be enough time.
''We might be able to pull something together, but it may not be as comprehensive as I had hoped it would be,'' she said.
