Yorkshire Jets captain disappointed by Netball Superleague absence
Tuesday 28 June 2016 14:43, UK
Yorkshire Jets captain Stacey Francis is dismayed by the decision to drop the team from next year’s Vitality Superleague.
A technical error saw the 2017 line-up - expanded from eight to 10 teams - leaked by mistake on England Netball's website over the weekend.
Three new teams join the league in the shape of Scottish Sirens, Severn Stars and Wasps, but Jets, who finished bottom of last year's standings, saw their application to enter the 2017 Superleague rejected.
"It's really sad and it's really hard to get your head around," Francis, who only signed for Jets last year after a decade at Team Bath, told Sky Sports.
"I'm a very loyal person and the core of Superleague franchises have been around for a long time now. I envisaged playing for the franchise for as long as I possibly could and absolutely building on last season.
"The performances and the results were poor but at no point did anyone say we were a lost cause in terms of performance, and the debrief at the end of season was incredibly productive and lots of conversations were already happening about how we would move forward next season.
"When you are being so positive and so solution-focused and already thinking about how you can work to make things better, it is a bit of a kick in the teeth for the players and the staff, especially those who have been there a lot longer than I have.
"The fans have been phenomenal," the England defender added.
"The Yorkshire Jets fans are incredibly passionate and have stood by their team and they are probably suffering more than anybody else right now in terms of where they will get access to a high level of netball."
Yorkshire Jets confirmed their absence in a statement over the weekend having not been awarded one of the spots and England Netball said: "We would like to place on record our appreciation of the work and dedication of all involved with Yorkshire Jets, who have not been offered a place in the league for the 2017 season.
"We will continue to work with Jets and the wider Yorkshire netball community to ensure talented players and coaches have the opportunity to develop and excel.
"We plan to work with them and other unsuccessful applicants to create a foundation that will allow them to join the league in a stronger position in the future, should expansion be possible."
Meanwhile, four more players have signed professional contracts with England Netball.
Eleanor Cardwell, Jodie Gibson, Natalie Haythornthwaite and Laura Malcolm will join up with the 10 other members of the squad. Six contracts are still to be filled.
