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Academy Duo Against Rooney Rule
Wednesday, 12th Nov 2014 01:05

Town academy coaches Kieron Dyer and Titus Bramble say they are firmly against English football adopting an approach to manager recruitment similar to the NFL’s Rooney Rule.

The Rooney Rule requires NFL clubs to interview at least one black or ethnic minority (BME) candidate when recruiting a new head coach.

Earlier in the week a report by the Sports People’s Think Tank (SPTT), a new organisation formed by current and former Premier League players, revealed that just 19 of 552 senior coaching positions at the 92 Premier League and Football League clubs are held by BME coaches, while more than 25 per cent of professional players come from BME backgrounds.

The SPTT recommended the introduction of an initiative along the lines of the Rooney Rule to help address that disparity.

“I want to be interviewed because the chairman wants to interview me,” Dyer, 35, told the Daily Telegraph.

“I don’t want to be interviewed because it’s filling a quota. I don’t want to be on a shortlist because football clubs are told I have to be because I’m black.”

The former England international, who coaches the Blues’ U16s, continued: “I want to prove myself independently of quotas. I want to impress them with my CV and ideas about the game. I’m proud of my race. I’ve never seen my colour as a negative. I’m buzzing about being black.

“Maybe it’s a generation thing. I wasn’t persecuted like older generations. I don’t feel I’ve ever being held back because of the colour of my skin and I’ve never seen it as a negative.”

Bramble, 35, like Dyer a long-time academy sponsor who is now coaching Town’s U11s, added: “I think it’s disgraceful that someone might be shortlisted for the job just because of their skin colour.

“You could say it’s just as bad being given a job because of your skin colour as it is not being given a job.

“My skin colour certainly wasn’t a problem for Ipswich at any stage, either as a player or a coach. I think they have employed me because of what I’ve achieved in my career as a player.”


Photo: Action Images



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Miles added 01:26 - Nov 12
Fully agree with this. There is no discrimination towards black people in coaching roles. This wouldn't help anyone get a job it would just serve as a load of wasted time to the clubs and the individuals going to these interviews. I believe if the coach is good enough the club wouldn't care what he looks like. Embarrassing if this rule comes in to play if you ask me
12

ajs83 added 01:57 - Nov 12
Completely agree as well. This is yet another excuse to play the racism card - something that has crept into the game over the last few years.
7

trncbluearmy added 04:13 - Nov 12
Well said lads thank god for common sense this political correctness has ruined a generation
7

bedsitfc added 06:22 - Nov 12
Is it just me or does that rule go against equal rights.
An equal right to be selected for an interview on your own merit.
4

pelles321 added 06:49 - Nov 12
The reason for the Rooney rule in America was that individuals from BME backgrounds were not even being considered for coaching roles. Therefore franchises had to interview a BME candidate, however there was no pressure to hire them. What they have found is a huge increase in BME coaches, suggesting that once given an interview they demonstrate they are the best candidate.
Five live had a good discussion on it the other week, and highlighted that first we need to understand why we have so few BME coaches in the game. If it's motivation to coach then that's different to not feeling they have opportunities. However, if it's felt that certain people are dismissed because of unconscious biases (which is more likely than conscious racism) then it is worth investigating this further.
2

jabberjackson added 08:50 - Nov 12
Clearly not a problem at Ipswich
I think there has been a problem generally, but like many discriminatory issues is fading with time, fortunately.
Good that the issue is being brought to the fore, but as others have stated, any form of legislation is admitting defeat to the issues
Easy for me to say as a white middle class man who is gainfully employed I suppose!
2

thebeat added 09:35 - Nov 12
At the end of the day if you are good enough you will make it regardless of skin colour.
Paul Ince was moaning recently about not being considered for the Wolves job previously. What does he expect? He did an awful job at Blackburn, Notts County and Blackpool.
Chairmen want success for their clubs and will give the job to the person they think can do the best job, they are businessmen they dont discriminate because of skin colour.
Chris Powell is proof that if you are good enough and prove yourself you will get a job.
To have a quota system in my opinion would be racist towards non black people. Youd be possibly denying somebody a job opportunity because hes not black.
3

brian_a_mul added 09:47 - Nov 12
When did Titus Bramble become a coach at Town??
Did I miss something?
0

DerbyBlue76 added 10:27 - Nov 12
pelles321 - I totally agree with you. There are two types of discrimination direct, which occurs when people decide on the basis of colour consciously, and indirect, which is often either unconscious or can be built in to the way the job is advertised (i.e. 10 years minimum experience excludes younger people who might be able to do the job).
There is also a wider societal issue. If, as Titus Bramble says, he did not know any black players wanting to go into coaching then the problem might be to do with the wider culture within football, the lack of role-models etc.
There clearly is a problem, the figures quoted in the article are stark and I think undeniable. The question is how to address it. Quotes do work as a short-term fix (look at Norway with women or boards of their large companies). This can change the wider culture which in the long-term is the aim (then the quota can go. Would be interested to see what other ideas there are instead of quotas
0

chivy99 added 14:10 - Nov 12
Slightly off topic, but how is Bramble good enough to train the under 11s?
0

JohnStirk added 14:16 - Nov 12
I pretty much agree with most of what is said on here but unfortunately we are not all such clear thinkers. I had to sit in a different seat against Watford and my enjoyment of a great win was marred by a near neighbour's criticism of the Watford team. He wasn't complaining about their disgraceful fouling and cheating but at the number of "darkies" and "nig-nogs" in their team. It reminded me of being at PR back in the 70s, in fact I'm surprised he didn't bring any bananas to the game. (I would like name and shame him by his seat number but that would be libellous.) To look at he appeared typical of quite a lot of older West-Standers the-friendly-old-gent type, so it makes one wonder how much these abhorrent attitudes still linger beneath the apparently liberal society that we live in, and maybe there is still a need for legislation such as Rooney's law. Anyway I'm looking forward to going back to my usual seat for the next game.
0

Michael11 added 00:28 - Nov 13
I totally agree with the pair of them. Why should you be entitled to an interview just because you're black? A chairman may sack a manager and know exactly who they want to employ, but then they'll have to interview a black guy just because he has to? It's surely more degrading to have an interview just because of your skin colour?

For the amount of black footballers in the game there is obviously something not right when it comes to ethnic managers. However, they should have to earn the right to become managers and earn the relevant badges and qualifications to impress a chairman.
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