Don't say a word - New netball coach told by handlers

NEW netball coach, Englishwoman Jermaine Allison-McCracken, has been put on a short leash by her handlers at Netball Jamaica, in particular Communications Director Wayne Lewis.

STAR Sports yesterday sought to get answers from Allison-McCracken regarding the future availability of Jamaica's senior players especially shooter Romelda Aiken, who was embroiled in a war of words with Netball Jamaica and had spurned a call for the Sunshine Girls' away series against New Zealand last September.

"I don't have anything to say but all I can say is that the Sunshine Girls is training well ahead of the Barbados series, okay, goodbye," said Allison-McCracken before a question was posed.

Overlooked by selectors

STAR Sports has been reliably told that since Allison-McCracken's appointment last month, she is yet to make contact with Aiken, who plies her trade in the ANZ League.

After spurning Netball Jamaica for the New Zealand series, the lanky 28-year-old was overlooked by selectors for the Fast 5 World Series in Melbourne, Australia, the following month.

Aiken also missed the Sunshine Girls' 2-1 series win over rivals England, late November to early December, raising concerns that she may very well not represent Jamaica again.

Lewis subsequently told STAR Sports that Allison-McCracken coach cannot speak to the media without his permission.

"The only person who is allowed to speak to the media, without it coming through me, is the president," said Lewis.

"So anybody who wants to conduct and an interview must come through me," he added.

Jamaica are heading into a three-Test series against Barbados later this month.