At last the chance for Brit bosses to call tune

THE managerial merry-goround has cranked into gear in the last couple of weeks with new gaffers at Tottenham, Aston Villa, Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Barcelona and, soon,

Norwich.

This burst of pre-christmas activity isn’t new, but I hope these latest moves signal the start of a new era for British managers in the Premier League.

The appointment of a British manager to a top Premier League job is still unusual. For instance, when the Tottenham job became available, I don’t think there was a single home-grown candidate in the running.

British managers have rarely been as highly regarded as foreign coaches.

As new owners have come into the Premier League, they have generally preferred to appoint coaches from abroad.

On the rare occasion that a British manager has secured a big job and then been sacked – like David Moyes at Manchester United and Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool – it seemed only to strengthen the argument against home-grown talent.

Yet, when the opposite has happened (United sacking Jose Mourinho, for example), there hasn’t been a shift in perception back towards British managers.

People may argue that there just isn’t the quality among British managers at the moment but I don’t accept that. Opportunities have just been limited.

Now there’s a huge chance, following Steven Gerrard’s appointment at Aston Villa and Eddie Howe’s move to Newcastle, for home-grown gaffers to show they’re a Brit of all right after all, to demonstrate they have what it takes to thrive at the top level. But they will need backing from their owners.

In last week’s column I highlighted how even a manager of Antonio Conte’s reputation still needs to spend a fortune on signings if he is to have the chance to bring silverware to Spurs.

The reality is that all managers need backing, whether fighting relegation or trying to win a trophy.

Many Liverpool fans want to see Gerrard taking control at Anfield one day and the challenge at Villa should be seen as a stepping stone.

I also desperately hope that the talented Howe (left), the former manager of Bournemouth, is not seen as a shortterm fix by Newcastle’s new wealthy owners before they look to recruit a big foreign name once they are clear of relegation.

I would love to see both Gerrard (top) and Howe do well at their new clubs. If they are given time and funds, then they can be leaders of a new pack of British managers who forge a strong reputation in the Premier League and across Europe.

At some point Germany’s Jurgen Klopp will leave Liverpool and Spain’s Pep Guardiola will eave Manchester City. I want to believe that, when those days come, more than one British candidate will be seriously considered for their jobs.

However, the realist in me knows that things are rarely that simple in football.