Grant-Yendell in line for island coach role

SONIA GRANT-YENDELL is set to replace Tracie Hards as Guernsey coach. Hards has decided to step down from the post after five years in charge of the island squad and yesterday was the closing date for nominations to take over the role.

Hours before the deadline, Guernsey Netball Association president Jacqui Le Noury confirmed that Grant-Yendell was still standing unopposed and, providing her placement was ratified, the Nerine star was looking forward to helping move the local game on.

'We have some players of really good potential coming through to ensure that the Guernsey netball team continues to do well,' she said.

'Coaching has always been a direction I have wanted to go in since I came to the island because I am passionate about the sport and I like to have as much involvement as possible. It would be great to have the chance to impart some of my knowledge on the up-and-coming talent as well as the current seniors.

'Netball on the island is structured so that the good young players can progress up through the ranks and the junior coaches, such as Denise Bourgaize with the under-18s, are doing a fantastic job with them.'

Grant-Yendell, who was a member of the Guernsey squad throughout last season and would look to be a player-coach for the representative side, has just gained her level two coaching award and is looking to take level three.

'It is going to be a development process for me and a chance to put into practice what I have learnt doing level one and level two,' she said, before adding that her experience from playing at a high level in the UK will also be of benefit.

'I think it gives us the opportunity to look at the way we run the island netball team and see if there is anything we can do differently. Not that there has been anything wrong with it in the past, but you always want to progress.'

Meanwhile, Hards admitted that it was a 'very difficult' decision to stand down and she hoped to be involved in the island set-up again some time.

'My main reason is that I cannot give 100% and that is what I expect from the players, so it would not be fair for me to do otherwise,' she said.

'Also, after five years, perhaps it is time for a change and a different face.

Hards admitted that she could not have gone out on a better note than the terrific 47-41 inter-insular win in her last match in charge - 'the performance from the girls was spectacular,' she said - and she added that Grant-Yendell would be a good replacement for her.

'It is nice to have someone from the UK who has a lot of experience and is wanting to get involved with the coaching. Sonia has helped me once or twice in the last year and she obviously knows her stuff.

'I am sure she will carry on from where I have left off and hopefully she will go on to bigger and better things,' Hards said.