Wearied netball boss calls it a day

ON THE WAY OUT: Netball Manawatu general manager Joy Walden wound up her career with Netball Manawatu today.

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Outgoing Netball Manawatu general manager Joy Walden says the long hours and lack of resources were major factors in her decision to resign.

Walden, who found herself in the middle of a couple of controversies this year, was to finish at Netball Manawatu today.

She succeeded Tania Roberts, who held the job for just six months. Walden has been in the post for just over two years.

She denied she was pushed out of her role, although Netball Manawatu has undertaken a review of its positions.

"It's my choice to resign.

"Obviously we are under-resourced and the hours and pressures on me were huge."

Netball Manawatu also has an administration officer, a netball development officer, Nicole Dryden, and Taniya Ward worked as game development officer from December to April this year.

Dryden and Walden had to pick up the extra work when Ward departed.

Walden was left to front two notable controversies this year, first of which was the disastrous premier-one grading format. That led to the College Old Girls' premier team withdrawing from netball completely after being told they were in the top grade, then having their status revoked and being forced into a playoff, which they lost.

The next saga was when the Bits and Pieces netball team went to television programme Fair Go after being told the shorts they wore as part of their uniform might be outlawed for next season.

Controversy aside, Walden did positive things for netball.

Player numbers in the area have remained constant for the past three seasons, she oversaw the hosting of a Silver Ferns test last season as well as Central Pulse fixtures and Manawatu's junior rep teams have improved in the past two years.

Walden said the general manager's position was a challenging one.

"It's a people's game [netball] but the problems are dealing with all walks of people. The clubs and schools all have different cultures and requirements."

As for her future plans, Walden said she had a few options but mainly needed a rest and would return to her home in Wanganui.

"I just want to get home and sort out home, do some gardening and have some time out."

Netball Manawatu chairwoman Annie Butler was sad to see Walden go and denied the board had played any part in her resignation.

"Turnover of staff is always difficult for any organisation, so it's a case of having to start all over again," she said.

"It was completely her own decision."

Netball Manawatu has completed its review in conjunction with Sport Manawatu.

"We've decided that it was timely that we looked at the organisation, looked at where our gaps were and where we needed to do better."

Butler said the review would be studied thoroughly before a new person was appointed.

- © Fairfax NZ News