skepticalpanda
By professionalised I just meant that there were people employed to be drive the progress of clubs - a recognition that not everything will happen if just left to volunteers. I've seen job adverts for employed roles with various Scottish clubs. I didn't mean it was some sort of elitist pressure cooker.
I don't think knocking netball helps. Globally it's not as big as athletics, but when Coates left it there were more registered with England netball than the were female registered England Athletics members. It's got a UK League Sky TV deal and multiple professional teams where players are able to earn from the sport. It's doing better than athletics in many ways.