30 October 2019

New England Netball chief says country has 'only scratched the surface' of sport's potential

England Netball's new CEO Fran Connolly believes the sport has 'only scratched the surface' of its potential in the country.

Connolly took over the role from Joanna Adams, who stepped down after England claimed bronze at this summer's World Cup in Liverpool.

And her first port of call after entering the job was to speak about not only the Roses winning silverware, but also improving the infrastructure of the sport.

In an interview with The Telegraph, she said: "I want us to be the top-ranked netball nation in the world and winning regularly in the major championships that matter - the World Cup and the Commonwealth Games.

"I want us to be a sustainable business where government funding is a choice and not a necessity, where we are a business that stands on its own two feet and are in charge of its own destiny. 

"Those three things I would like to be my legacy."

Connolly has been in several positions within the governing body since 2001 and has been at the forefront of driving netball's growth after being appointed director of development in 2010. 

"I want us to be the leading team sport for women and girls- we are at the moment and I want us to stay there," she added.

Last month, England Netball released figures which showed over 300,000 adults play the sport regularly.

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