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Sir Owen Glenn freezes Black Sticks' $2 million funds over Mark Hager's controversial departure - report

February 20, 2019
Coach Mark Hager, Black Sticks Women's hockey team is named for the Vitality Hockey Women’s World Cup in London next month. Harbour Hockey, Auckland, New Zealand. 3 July 2018. Copyright Image: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz

Sir Owen Glenn has reportedly withdrawn his funding for the Black Sticks programme due to the controversial departure of former women's coach Mark Hager.

The New Zealand Herald reports Sir Owen has frozen his funding over Hager's exit, just six months after he committed $2 million to the men's and women's teams.

Hager left the team during a review into the women's team's environment, which was launched in September last year after 1 NEWS revealed he sent an email criticising players to the entire team.

The email was sent during the team's world cup campaign and contained Hager’s frustrations with the team. It was intended for a team trainer.

Findings from the launched review are expected next week.

Sir Owen said he supported Hager after he led New Zealand to a gold medal at last year's Commonwealth Games and wanted access to the review.

"If I'm putting $2 million behind hockey I think there should at the very least be courtesy and respect so I know what's going on," Sir Owen said.

"I put my terms and conditions to the hockey board of what I want to see, including the report [review] which has been mysteriously under wraps.

"I want proper governance and transparency, and I think the whole of hockey does too. The guy [Hager] took us from 12th in Beijing [Olympics] to winning the Commonwealth Games gold medal. What did he do wrong?"

Sir Owen backed up his argument by saying he had spoken to players and hadn't heard of any issues within the Black Sticks environment.

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