Ouseley unhappy about coach numbers

02 October 2014 02:46

Black players' only hope of getting equal opportunities to become coaches at professional clubs is to go on strike, according to the chairman of anti-racism group Kick It Out.

Lord Herman Ouseley claims football's hierarchy "does not have the stomach" to bring in regulations such as the 'Rooney rule' to give black and ethnic minority coaches a fair chance. He believes that meaningful change will only be made if black players threaten to go on strike.

There are only two black managers in the 92 league clubs, Chris Powell at Huddersfield and Carlisle's Keith Curle, yet the Professional Footballers' Association say 25 per cent of players are black. PFA numbers suggest 18 per cent of those who attend coaching courses are black - yet only around 3 per cent of managers, assistant managers, first-team coaches, technical directors, under- 21 coaches, u18 coaches, academy managers, goalkeeping coaches and physios.

The PFA is pushing for the Rooney rule - introduced in American football where clubs must include at least one black and ethnic minority candidate on the shortlist for all coaching jobs - to be brought in but the Football League and Premier League have shown no inclination to do so.

Ouseley told Press Association Sport: "Quite frankly I don't think the hierarchy has the stomach to establish proper procedures and unless people like [FA chairman] Greg Dyke and [Premier League chief executive] Richard Scudamore do something about it the situation will continue.

"It [the Rooney rule] has not got a hope in hell, people have not got the appetite to make it happen.

"The only thing that will work is black players creating their own revolution until the authorities sort it out.

"I'm not saying it's going to happen, I don't think the PFA have the bottle to do that, to withdraw their labour but the only real lever of power they have is while they are players.

"Otherwise after they have finished they may get a job in a TV studio but that's about it.

"Black coaches should be considered properly with interviews and considered on merit. The Leagues and the FA should regulating and setting the overall standard."

Simone Pound, head of equality and diversity at the PFA, said the union had organised its first black coaches forum in 2003 and that increasing the proportion of black and ethnic minority coaches was one its most important aims.

She said: "We are working to ensure there is constant attention on this - it cannot be brushed under the carpet. We have been working for more than 10 years on this and we need solutions."

Labour's shadow sports minister Clive Efford says football has to address the problem of a lack of black coaches.

He said: "What the authorities have failed to do is ensure people from ethnic minorities are represented at every level of the game.

"Ensuring there is someone from an ethnic minority on a shortlist for interview would be a step in the right direction - the current situation underlines that people making these decisions are too often overlooking good candidates from ethnic minorities.

"Some outstanding players who have made magnificent contributions to the game are walking away assuming not wanted as managers and coaches and that can't be right.

"People oppose quotas saying everything should be on merit but it tells you there is something very wrong when 25 per cent of PFA members are black and only two managers and a smattering of coaches."

Source: PA