Nancy can become ‘role model’ for black bosses
Ex-Hibs star Harper hails prospect of Celtic coach swoop
Wilfried Nancy will become an instant role model for Scotland’s black and ethnic coaches if he takes the Celtic job.
That is the message from Kevin Harper, the ex-Hibs striker and Albion Rovers manager, who believes the Frenchman’s appointment would be a significant development in the struggle for racial equality in the game. Deep in negotiations with the Hoops, the Columbus Crew head coach could be in place in time for Saturday’s late kick-off against St Mirren in Paisley.
That would delight Harper (right), a 49-year-old Scot who has had to deal with prejudice all his life.
“Celtic had John Barnes as their head coach working under Kenny Dalglish 25 years ago, but it looks like Wilfried Nancy could be about to become their first black manager,” he said.
“If so, it will be great as he will instantly become a poster boy for black and ethnic coaches over here.
“Someone who they could look up to and say: ‘That could be me one day’. “Which is something you just do not get in Scottish football. When I went in at Albion Rovers, I became the first black manager in 15 years. The fact he is even in the process is encouraging.”
Kevin Harper says Celtic appointing Wilfried Nancy as their next manager would be huge news for black and ethnic coaches in Scotland.
The head coach of MLS outfit Colombus Crew is on the brink of taking over at Celtic Park, with Hoops’ majority shareholder Dermot Desmond convinced he is the right man to replace Brendan Rodgers on a permanent basis.
And, with his current club having decided not to stand in his way, the Frenchman could even be in place in time for Saturday’s late kick-off against St Mirren in Paisley.
“Celtic had John Barnes as their head coach working under Kenny Dalglish 25 years ago, but it looks like Wilfried Nancy could be about to become their first black manager,” said Harper, a forward for Hibs in the90swh owen ton to boss Albion Rovers between 2018-20.
“If so, it will be great as he will instantly become a poster boy for black and ethnic coaches over here – someone who they could look up to and say that could be me one day.
“Which is something you just do not get in Scottish football. When I went in at Albion Rovers,
I became the first black manager in 15 years.
“And, remember, they were the bottom club in the bottom division – which was fine by me because I had to start somewhere.
“By contrast, managers jobs in Scotland do not come much more high-profile than
Celtic – they have been the country’ s top club over recent seasons.
“It is a job there is always going to be a lot of competition for.
“And I would say that whoever gets it is going to have a lot to deal with other than just the football.
“Fan expectation, the board, Europe – there are a lot of aspects to it. If you get it right, though, there will be huge, huge numbers singing your praises. So, go in there and you know that you are going to be seen and heard across all forms of media on a very regular basis.
“The fact he is just involved in the process is encouraging as there just are not any black or ethnic coaches in such roles in Scotland.
“In fact, it is positive that his race is not really being mentioned too much because you want to be judged on whatyoudoandwhat you can bring to the party.
“You need the opportunity – you need the top brass tolookatyourCV and not look at your colour but look at what you havedone. “Hopefully, that is what happening here because I am not sure on a wider scale that has happened in the past.”
The 49-year-old, who now runs his own coaching school for young of both sexes, says he speaks from personal experience.
“Since Albion Rovers, I have applied for practically every job that has come up and had two interviews,” he said.
“I am not saying that is all down to colour, but the fact is there are people who get multiple chances and people who don’t.”
Harper is not convinced either that, if appointed, Nancy will escape the sort of racist abuse he himself has suffered in and out of the game.
“It is the easiest stick to get because it is not as if you can go in and change your skin colour,” he said.
“People speak about religion but if three people who don’t have colours on are walking down the street then you cannot tell who the Catholic among them is or who is the Rangers fan.
“But, if three people are walking down the street and one is a black man, then you can certainly tell which one he is.
“We are in a predominately white country and, while people can empathise with how it feels to be of a different race in that situation, they cannot know it if they have not experienced it themselves.
“It is the same way I cannot know what it is like to be a woman walking through a group of guys.
“I can have an idea, but I cannot know for sure because I have not experienced it myself.”