Tuesday 13 September 2016 12:42, UK
Tania Hoffman hopes to build a youthful 'new-look' team at Surrey Storm after being appointed as Director of Netball.
The former assistant coach for Central Pulse will start her new role after a difficult summer for the reigning Vitality Netball Superleague champions, who have lost coaching staff and a string of key players.
But Hoffman is keen to oversee a new era for Surrey as they pursue a third successive title in a fiercely competitive Superleague, featuring three new franchises.
We're going to have a young team, a team that is going to stay together for the next two, three, four years.
"It's going to be a very new-look team, with a new-look management, so we've got to look at the culture that we build moving forward with Surrey," said Hoffman, who replaced Tamsin Greenway.
"We're going to have a young team, a team that is going to stay together for the next two, three, four years.
"You've got to be able to give players belief that they can do it. I think some of the younger players might not have that belief, but they don't have any fear either. It will be interesting to blend those things together."
Hoffman still wants an experienced backbone in the team after seasoned duo Pamela Cookey and Rachel Dunn both departed, while Sophie Candappa, Amy Flanagan Josie Huckle and Hannah Reid also left Surrey in recent months.
But she believes Surrey have already discovered a winning formula on the court and will not make drastic changes to their playing style.
"I have been keeping an eye on the past season, just watching all the teams, and looking at players," she said. "It's pretty exciting with the introduction of new teams, a bigger league, and lots of player movement.
"I won't be wanting to change the wheel, but will add a bit of a different flavour. Surrey Storm have done some really good things over the past two seasons, so just adding to that."
