Former England coach Tracey Neville being chased by two Super Netball clubs

Former England mentor Tracey Neville has her pick of jobs for the next Super Netball season with the chance to return to the premiers or to build a legacy with the newest team in the league.

The chance to help build a new franchise from the ground up or the opportunity to help a championship-winning side defend its premiership.

This is the decision facing coach Tracey Neville, who has two offers on the table from Super Netball clubs, both of them desperate to have the former England Roses mentor join their programs.

Neville has been the prime target of the Sports Entertainment Network (SEN) group, which was named as Super Netball’s eighth franchise on Friday, replacing the Collingwood Magpies.

SEN chief executive Craig Hutchison would not confirm Neville’s appointment, saying announcements about the franchise’s name, colours and coaching line-up would be made in the coming days and weeks.

Tracey Neville (centre, in black shirt), celebrates with Thunderbirds players after the 2023 Super Netball Grand Final. Photo: Getty Images

But he said the appointment of an established leader was a priority.

“We’re new to the sport, so far from experts but what I would say is there is an incredible talent pool available of coaches,” Hutchison said.

“We’ve been overwhelmed with the interest and also the calibre of candidate.

“Clearly when you establish a new franchise it’s really important to start on the right foot and to set the tone.

“So an experienced and established coach, if available, is a huge priority and a great person and a great leader.

“We’re confident that we have a couple of options there that we can proceed upon subject to Netball Australia’s approval, and we anticipate that happening pretty quickly in the coming days.”

Tracey Neville (left) has an offer to work with Adelaide head coach Tania Obst again next season. Photo: Getty Images

But Neville, who was a member of Tania Obst’s staff at the Adelaide Thunderbirds this season, helping them break a decade-long premiership drought, also has an offer on the table from the T-Birds to return.

Netball South Australia CEO Bronwyn Klei confirmed the club had made Neville an offer to return in as an assistant again.

“We would love her to come back, definitely,” Klei said.

“Tracy is a great coach and we have made her an offer to come back and that’s now for Tracy to decide.

“We can’t speculate on what Tracey will decide - that’s for her to decide.

“We’d love to have her back and she’ll make a decision in the right time frame for her.”

Klei conceded Neville would be an attractive candidate for a new club.

“I guess you would be looking at someone like Tracey because she’s a good coach with good credentials,” Klei said.

Former Collingwood coach Nicole Richardson is understood to have been interviewed by the new Melbourne franchise. Photo: Getty Images

“She’s a winner and she’s got the Comm Games gold medal with England and now she’s got (a Super Netball premiership with) Thunderbirds under her belt.

“She’s a great person, so I accept that she would be quite popular on the recruitment market.”

It’s understood the new franchise has made Neville an offer, while former Collingwood coach Nicole Richardson, who is currently working with the Diamonds at the World Cup, has also been interviewed.

Neville’s recruitment would be highly prized given her close and longstanding relationship with several England players.

Chief among these is T-Birds goaler Eleanor Cardwell, who has worked with Neville at both club and international level, leading to speculation the Roses representative could be a target of the new club once the Super Netball contracting window opens on August 7 subject to the Team Participation Agreements and the Collective Player Agreement being finalised.

Originally published as Former England coach Tracey Neville being chased by two Super Netball clubs