Management path should be open to all...

THE lack of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) managers and coaches in football has long been a cause for concern. Currently, there are four BAME managers in the EFL – Nuno Espirito Santo (Wolves), Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Northampton), Keith Curle (Carlisle) and Jack Lester (Chesterfield).

So the news that the EFL are extending a ‘voluntary recruitment code’ pilot scheme to all 72 of their clubs is a welcome one (see p12).

It is due to run from January 1, 2018 to the end of the 2018-19 season and commits the clubs to interview one or more BAME candidates when they have a recruitment process for a managerial or coaching position in first team football.

Ten clubs took part last season and it appears that the mandatory regulations introduced into Academy football from the start of last season as part of the same initiative did have some impact.

BAME applicants (with the relevant coaching qualifications) had a 52 per cent chance of being offered an interview compared to 18 per cent for all applicants. Eleven BAME coaches were subsequently appointed to roles in club Academies.

There is a lot more work to be done, but it’s good to see the EFL at the forefront of trying to open opportunities to all.

The low percentage of BAME managers in proportion to the number of black players in the game is striking.

It could be that black players coming to the end of their career are put off from trying to obtain their coaching badges because they believe there will not be management jobs for them at the end of it.

The new pilot scheme is going to take a year and a half – and some may argue that is too long – but if it encourage clubs to widen their perspective, it can only be a good thing.