Eight clubs have signed a petition requesting a special general meeting of the Barbados Netball Association (BNA).
The letter, which is dated May 18, 2011, was signed by representatives from Spooners Hill Netball Club, King’s Park United, NCC Ballers, Police Sports Club, BRC Welch Rovers, Flashback, Central Bank Sports Club and Pride of Villa.
Under the constitution, seven member clubs in good financial standing are needed to request a meeting.
Six items have been listed for discussion.
They are:
• An update on the national teams’ programme including Barbados’ attendance at the World Netball Championships in Singapore in July and the preparation of the Under-21 team to Scotland in 2013;
• An update on the finances of the association and the corporate sponsorship initiative;
• An update on the current domestic season;
• The withdrawal of support of the BNA for Americas regional representative Octavia Gibson;
• The stewardship of the current board of directors; and
• The online coaching certification programme.
“The members should know [what is going on] and not hear from the coach,” one member who signed the letter said.
Head coach Alwyn Babb wrote a letter to the current national players giving management’s side after manager Maureen Shepherd was dismissed, and this member wasn’t in agreement with that mode of communication.
“There is a need for a meeting. We are the ones who have to give the support. The clubs run the association, not the president.”
The long-standing member of the association was particularly peeved about the BNA’s decision to write the world body IFNA, withdrawing its support for the former president who has been elected to serve for four years as a director for the Americas Federation of Netball Associations (AFNA).
“I am concerned that the board of management did not communicate with the clubs. If they are having problems with the manager, they should have come to the clubs and told us,” the person said, referring to the recent dismissal of Shepherd.
“It is too close to the world tournament to be making changes.”
Another concern was the decision by the Caribbean Netball Association to stage the Jean Pierre Under-16 Tournament this year. A decision was taken years ago not to host the tournament in the same year a world tournament was being held.
Jamaica didn’t attend and the member believes the BNA could have used those resources towards the senior team.
Under the BNA’s constitution, the meeting should be called within 14 days of receipt of the letter.
Controversy has been swirling around the current senior national team since the annual general meeting and elections last year.
Babb, who carried the team to their highest ever finish (No. 7) at the Commonwealth Games last October, resigned earlier this year, but was later reinstated.
The three-match tour o Trinidad and Tobago from June 2 to 6 has further stirred the pot, with controversy swirling with respect to the numbers and who should be in the touring party.
The World Championships will be held from July 3 to 10.
