Sky Sports expert Tamsin Greenway says Jess Thirlby’s surprise departure as England netball head coach comes at a strange time.
On Tuesday, it was announced that Thirlby would step down with immediate effect after serving in the role for nearly seven years. Her departure comes just four months after the Commonwealth Games.
Thirlby cited a desire to focus on supporting her family as the main reason for her decision, with Anna Stenbridge moving from assistant coach to oversee England’s upcoming campaign in Glasgow.
Last month, England lost the series 2-1 against South Africa, which was Thirlby’s final act as head coach.
“There’s been some rumblings about playing South Africa, bearing in mind we have to play them in the pool round of the Commonwealth Games and we have two big games against Australia,” former England international Greenway told Sky Sports.
“As an England fan watching from the shadows, it’s been quite a roller coaster. There have been some incredible moments in her six-and-a-half years, but the Netball World Cup final was a milestone.
“You only have to go back 12 months, but we didn’t win a medal at the last Commonwealth Games so it was very up and down.
“It seems odd to do it now, but there were probably much different occasions where a new coaching team could have given us a longer lead heading into the big competition.
“But with the result of that South African series, they probably didn’t feel it could continue.”
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England competed as defending champions after their 2018 glory, but missed out on a medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Greenway recalls being part of the team that went to the 2015 World Cup following a managerial change, with Stenbridge also stepping into the role. So while there is potential for disruption, there is also potential for new momentum.
“It was what we needed, something fresh, and probably what the group needed. The group was good enough, but they just needed a different perspective,” she said.
“I think it’s similar now, this is a group of athletes who have a very good chance of winning gold.
“If it’s just a cultural thing, a miscommunication between the players and the staff, where they’ve lost a little bit of trust, that could actually be the refreshment they need.
“But it’s a risk. We’ve retained the coaching staff who have been in this system, so they have to get to the bottom of this, understand what the players need and think very quickly about what this campaign is going to look like.”
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Stenbridge previously served as England’s head coach from 2011 to 2015, leading the team to gold at the World Netball Series in Liverpool in his first year in charge. Her staff introduced former Roses captain Olivia Murphy as a seconded assistant coach from Loughborough Sports, and welcomed Sharni Leighton and Joe Harten as specialist coaches.
“She’s been there, she’s been in the mix, she’s done it before,” said Greenway of Stenbridge. “You can’t really go abroad with a new group. There’s a risk when you do this. I think we’re starting to find out why this happened.”
“We had some great games overseas against Australia and New Zealand, but then we lost the South Africa series 2-1. If we want to compete on the world stage, consistency is important.
“If we’re going to change coaches at this point, or if she’s going to step down, we’ve got to have some consistency going into this tournament.
“There will be some big names there, Liv Murphy, who has played at the top level for many years and masterminded the success of Loughborough Lightning. “Obviously Sharni Leighton and Joe Harten, two key international players that the players really respect.”
Thirlby’s resignation comes just four months before the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow
Stenbridge represents a proven option, but Greenway believes Thirlby’s decision to leave gives England an opportunity to consider a new direction with a group of players ready to win in the long term.
“They have a year to get ready for the World Cup. They need to decide what they actually want here and what the basis is,” Greenway said.
“To her credit, Jess Thirlby has become a world-class player on the world stage, through the leadership of Liv Chine, Funmi Fadoju and Fran Williams, among others, but I think this is her chance to rip off the bandaid of the Commonwealth Games and say, ‘What do we want now?’
“Now we have a professional Super League, but how can we better integrate that program? And who are the coaches there?
“In Anna Stenbridge’s defence, she’s been there and done it, but it’s actually not that long since she’s been a head coach and as we get closer to the Commonwealth Games it’s going to be goal-on-goal games, high-pressure situations and the bench will have to make some tough decisions, so it’s going to be interesting.”
“I think they will have to wait until the Commonwealth Games, but it would be naive to think that this group is the only group that can take the team forward.”
