Sunshine Girls’ coach dismisses speculators

Connie Francis is refuting suggestions that her revelations about her mental challenges as senior national netball coach are an attempt to force Netball Jamaica (NJ) back to the bargaining table to improve her pay package.

A recent Gleaner report said the former netball star is taking home a meagre $25,000 a week and is unhappy with this salary, which prompted former national coach Winston Nevers to suggest in a television report that the coach was using the team's historic silver medal-performance at the Commonwealth Games to renegotiate a better deal for herself.

"People are entitled to their opinion. When I took on the job, financially, nothing was happening for netball at the time and I thought I could make a difference. I wanted to help Jamaica to get another colour medal. The players had passion and I analysed to see what was needed.

"So I signed on for four years and it was never about the money or I would never have taken a four-year deal, but persons can always say what they want to say," Francis insisted.

She added that she has seen the association go above and beyond the financial capabilities to get other professionals, such as Australian defensive coach Rob Wright, in the programme, which has a positive impact on the progress of the Sunshine Girls.

She stated, however, that her recent admission was genuine.

"I see things happening to really help the players who are giving their time for free and even for the local coaches including myself," Francis said.

"So it was never about the pay package. It was me being just tired and having a lot of things to endure from September of last year to now, but I've never ever short-changed netball. I don't think I can ever short-change a team that I am coaching.

"I have the support to finish the four years and I am going to finish it. I have never been a quitter, even when I wanted to quit. I just needed to step back and reassess myself to see how I can go forward and my psychologist has been very helpful and convincing. I really like having our chats, as it has helped me re-energised," she said.