Premier League clubs urged to consider adopting version of Rooney rule
By Louise Taylor, The Guardian
Football Association to put forward version of NFL’s non-white candidate rule
No black managers in top flight, and only six at the Football League’s 72 clubs
The Football Association will attempt to persuade Premier League clubs to adopt a voluntary version of American football’s “Rooney rule” under which at least one non-white candidate must be interviewed for every managerial vacancy.
Wayne Allison, appointed as the FA’s new black, Asian and minority ethnic project manager on Wednesday, is set to spearhead an initiative designed to win hearts and minds as he endeavours to convince leading clubs of the need to increase the number of BAME managers in the game.
As part of a wide-ranging brief, the former Bristol City and Sheffield United centre-forward – known as “The Chief” during his playing days – will hold informal discussions with key figures at top-flight clubs in an effort to coax them into following the Football League’s lead on the issue.
From next season selected clubs in the Championship, League One and League Two will operate a pilot scheme whereby they interview one or more BAME candidates for every managerial or head coach vacancy. All League clubs must interview a minimum of one BAME contender for each youth coaching role.
Allison’s brief involves ensuring that all clubs have access to the FA’s ‘ready list’, a document compiled from the databases of the FA, Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) and League Managers Association (LMA) detailing all available potential BAME coaches and their qualifications.
“Every job should be awarded on merit,” says Allison. “But some BAME coaches aren’t getting the opportunities to be considered for positions and others maybe don’t feel there’s any point in gaining qualifications. Our role is about changing perceptions and we’ve had a lot of help from the PFA the LMA, and the Football League. We’re all working together.
“We hope the ready list will make a big difference. It’s about clubs supporting the principles of the Rooney rule on a voluntary basis. By talking to them, I hope we’ll get to a position where they’ll want to adopt it.”
As the man responsible for managing the FA’s £1.4m initiative to turn more aspiring coaches from BAME communities into Uefa-licensed professionals working at elite level, Allison’s intention is that his proteges graduate to the ready list.
“It’s an honour and a privilege to take on this role,” said the 47-year-old, who is now Dr Allison after his recent completion of a PhD at Sheffield Hallam university. “The investment of £1.4m over the next five years means we can help develop greater opportunities and improve prospects for BAME coaches, especially in the professional game.”
Foremost among his assorted tasks will be overseeing the FA’s new BAME coach apprenticeship scheme – namely a series of placements offering experience working within the men’s and women’s England development teams as well as the grassroots and elite coaching departments at St George’s Park. “We hope that, having completed these placements, coaches will be in a stronger position when it comes to applying for jobs,” he said. “And once they do get jobs we’ll be there to offer them continued support.”
After a 22-year playing career also involving stints with Halifax Town, Watford, Swindon, Huddersfield, Tranmere Rovers and Chesterfield Allison experienced stints coaching at Chester, Bury, Tranmere and Bradford before joining the FA in 2012 as coaching research manager.
“I personally never experienced any discrimination,” he said. “But maybe I was lucky. The small number of BAME coaches working in the game suggests things haven’t moved on as much as my generation had hoped.”
While the Premier League lacks a single black manager – only six are employed by the 72 Football League clubs: Chris Hughton (Brighton), Chris Ramsey (QPR), Chris Powell (Huddersfield), Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Burton), Ricardo Moniz (Notts County) and Keith Curle (Carlisle).
If that seems to endorse the PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor’s claim that football has a “hidden resistance” to hiring black managers, Richard Scudamore continues to resist the idea of England’s top division adopting a Rooney rule equivalent.
The Premier League chief executive has, however, championed a scheme under which Premier League clubs guarantee certain apprentice coaching roles for those from BAME backgrounds. Allison’s challenge is to change his mind about clubs’ senior recruitment protocols.
“It’s about creating opportunities,” he said. “We’re hoping to give people a better chance.”
