The Southern Steel is in need of a new head coach after Janine Southby was yesterday appointed to guide the Silver Ferns.
Southby has been the Steel's head coach the past three years, while she co-coached the franchise with former Australian player Natalie Avellino in 2012.
Her new job with the Silver Ferns, which she starts on December 1, means she must stand down from the Steel.
Netball South is now advertising for a replacement with ''urgency'', and aspiring coaches have only until November 16 to get their applications in.
Netball South chief executive Lana Winders said the need to look for a new head coach was something she thought ''might happen'' when it became clear Southby had applied for the national job.
''As part of our contingency and planning, we had thought through what we would have to do if this was going to happen, but nothing actually prepares you for being in it and it actually happening,'' she said.
In addition to advertising for applicants, Winders will approach Netball New Zealand to recommend the best coaches in the country to potentially approach.
''We are keen to open up [to] the market because we want anyone interested to have a chance to apply. But we will also be looking to identify some of the most talented coaches in the country,'' she said.
''I've always got a preference for South Zone talent, but at the end of the day we want the person that's going to deliver the best possible coaching experience to the Steel team.''
With the Steel now without a coach, NNZ is supporting Netball South to ensure the impact on the franchise's planning for next year is minimal.
Southby will be available to help with any transition period until Christmas, including ensuring the ''systems and initiatives'' in place continue to operate. All going well, the earliest a new coach will be appointed would be sometime at the end of the month, Winders said.
''But we could find ourselves still trying to get to a point of appointment through December. It's quite possible the coach might not start this side of Christmas.''
The Steel squad is due to form in January to prepare for the ANZ Championship starting in April.
Netball South is also searching for a head coach for its team in next year's national league, which will run in conjunction with the ANZ Championships.
There is now a ''feast of coaching opportunities'' in the South, and Winders expects to receive a good number of applications for both jobs, which are critical roles at the upper end of the elite coaching pathway, she said.
Potential candidates include Reinga Te Huia, the Steel's assistant coach the past two years.
She could not be reached for comment yesterday, but is clearly one of the leading candidates.
Avellino, who was sacked as Southby's assistant coach four games into the 2013 season, was undecided whether or not she would apply for the job when contacted for comment yesterday.
''I will definitely have a look at it when the job is advertised,'' she said.
''But I just need to see if it is going to work for me and my family and obviously my job at Southland Girls'.''
Dunedin coach Deb Tasi-Cordtz, who guided the then Otago team to a national title in 2012, is likely to put her name in the hat.
''I still have to talk to my husband ... but I got back into coaching this year and really enjoyed it, so I think you'd be silly not to look at opportunities.''
Former Otago coach Lauren Piebenga guided the province to a national title in 2013, but said it was too early to say whether she would apply.
''It's all pretty new at this stage, so I'm just processing it,'' she said.
Piebenga has expressed interest in coaching an ANZ Championship team in the past and acknowledged it was a ''great opportunity''.
''I've just got to work through all the different factors.''
Former Silver Ferns and England shooter Jo Morrison said the timing was not right for her. She coached the Dunedin under-19 team this year.
''I've only just started out on my coaching pathway and I've still got a heap to learn. I've been doing a bit of work with the Steel shooters, but that is just specialist stuff really.''
Former Magic coach Noeline Taurua was also unable to be contacted but may feel she has done her dash at ANZ Championship level. The move South may not appeal either.
