Wirral’s bid to become a centre for netballing excellence will be driven by one of the sport's most respected and influential figures.

New Zealander Melissa Hyndman has been appointed as head coach at the newly-formed WESPA Fire Netball team and hopes to further enhance the region’s reputation for sporting excellence.

Widely-acknowledged to be one of the game’s most visionary coaches and tacticians, Hyndman has a reputation as a tough disciplinarian and was once labelled the “Alex Ferguson of netball.“

“ I have been described as a 'very tough' coach - I can be and I can see nothing wrong with that, “ said Hyndman.

“If you want to succeed in modern sport then you need unwavering dedication and, yes, a ruthless streak. I think most of the girls I have worked with through the years would describe me as tough, but fair.

"I DO expect my athletes to put in 110% at all times, whether that is in their trainings at home, or on the court in the Grand Final. I don't want to coach players who are happy coming second - I want winners; it is as simple as that.“

Hyndman revived netball in Wales after being installed as High Performance Coach of both the national squad and club side Celtic Dragons back in 2010.

During her reign Wales climbed from 19th to eighth in the world - the highest ranking ever achieved by the Principality - which saw them qualify for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow -while the Dragons reached the Super-league play-off final for the first time in their history.

She was controversially sacked by Wales on the eve of the 2014 Games after Wales Netball said “a number of allegations had been made“ – allegations which Hyndman was later happy to explain to "clear" her name.

Hyndman will personally oversee the trials for WESPA Fire this Saturday,  August 6, at Bebington High Sports College, between 11am and 1.30pm.

Next term Year 9 and Year 8 girls are eligible to trial for WESPA Fire (Under-14s) but must register beforehand at www.wespa.uk.

"I am super-excited to be joining WESPA Fire and I am really looking forward to working with the young netball talent on the Wirral,” said Hyndman.

“To be involved with this new sporting venture - just a matter of weeks after its inception - is exhilarating, and what I believe we will see is the rapid and impressive growth of a new force within English Netball.

"It will take a great deal of hard work for that to happen, but if the girls who make it through the trials into the squad are as committed, passionate and enthusiastic as I will be, then the world is your oyster."

WESPA - the World Elite Sports Performance Academy - has pledged it will be challenging netball’s English League's big-hitters within three years.

WESPA, launched on the Wirral last year and now building a solid reputation for sporting excellence in Liverpool, is a ground-breaking academy which delivers “non-sport specific” world-class performance training to young athletes as they bid to improve their physical and mental conditioning to international and world class standards.