Incumbent Steel coach Robyn Broughton will "definitely not" be applying for her old job and a couple of her loyal lieutenants have also ruled themselves out.
Applications for the head coaching role closed yesterday and franchise chief executive Julie Paterson was pleased with the response. She was bound by confidentiality and was not giving many details away but there will be a new coach next year, with Broughton deciding against applying.
In a text message to the Otago Daily Times, Broughton said she was still contemplating her future plans and did not want to comment further. However, she confirmed she would not be applying for the coaching role.
Broughton led the Sting to seven titles in 10 years and helped the Steel reach the ANZ playoffs in 2009 and 2010.
However, the franchise seemed determined to move in a new direction and advertised the position last week.
That move has alienated some of Broughton's strongest supporters and created some uneasiness among potential replacements.
Steel assistant coach Jo Cunningham did not want to be drawn into the spat but said she did not "feel comfortable" applying for the job or ready to make the step up in the current environment.
Former Steel assistant coach Marg Foster said she was putting her energy into landing the vacant Canterbury Tactix role but would not "feel right" about applying for the Steel position out of a sense of loyalty to Broughton.
"If Robbie had retired, then I would probably have applied for the job down there," she said.
"But, I guess, if I'm going to be a head coach I'd rather it was in my home town."
Former Australian international Natalie Avellino, though, has not been put off by the politics.
She was in Te Anau yesterday, but said she was going to Stadium Southland to play netball later that afternoon and "to possibly hand in an application".
"Whether you are an athlete or a coach you want to participate at the highest level you possibly can. But I've applied for assistant coach in the past and haven't got it so you just have to bide your time."
Avellino coached the Southland team in the Lois Muir Challenge and is the New Zealand secondary schools assistant coach.
She is a leading contender but Dunedin's Janine Southby also has the credentials for the job.
Southby could not be reached for comment yesterday but she played for the Western Flyers before shifting to Dunedin to captain the Otago Rebels in 2002-03.
She took over the coaching reins from Lois Muir in 2006 and had two seasons in charge before the team was disbanded when the ANZ Championship replaced the National Bank Cup.
Southby is regarded highly nationally. She was New Zealand Under-21 assistant coach in 2008 and 2009 and became head coach last year.
Paterson said an interview panel comprising herself, Dame Lois Muir, Netball New Zealand high performance manager Tracey Fear and Steel board member Doreen Evans would conduct interviews on Saturday and the franchise hoped to make an appointment towards the end of next week.
