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Dyer: Lack of Opportunities for Black Coaches a Massive Problem Tuesday, 23rd Jun 2020 11:13
Former Blues star Kieron Dyer has backed the Rooney Rule to address the current lack of opportunities for black coaches in English football.
The Rooney Rule started in the NFL in the US before being adopted by the EFL 2016/17 - but not yet the Premier League - and is a policy which requires clubs to interview at least one candidate from a BAME [black, Asian and minority ethnic] background, although only when there is a shortlist of interviewees.
At present, Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo is the only BAME manager in the top flight, while there are just five working in the EFL.
Speaking about issues relating to race and racism and football at length in The Kick Off podcast, Dyer, 41, says he has changed his view of the Rooney Rule since speaking out against it in 2014.
“Talking about racism in football, I remember when the Rooney Rule was coming into England I did an interview along with Titus Bramble with a reporter and I said ‘I don’t want a job because of the colour of my skin, I want to [get it] because I earnt the job’ and that I didn’t believe in this Rooney Rule,” the ex-Blues and Newcastle midfielder said.
“And I must have had about six or seven black players going mental at me, ringing me up going ‘You don’t know, blah-de-blah’ and I’m thinking ‘What are you talking about?’.
“Darren Lewis, the black reporter from the Mirror, he wrote a scathing report, absolutely hammering us as well.
“And then as I’m trying to get coaching roles and I see the lack of opportunities for black people, it’s a massive problem in this country.
“This [Black Lives Matter] movement is big, the last time I saw a movement like this was the Me Too movement with women.”
Asked whether he now feels there is a need for the Rooney Rule here, Dyer, who left his job as Town’s U18s coach in August last year to further his coaching experience as he works towards his ultimate aim of becoming a first-team manager, continued: “I think so, but the Rooney Rule has been in place for a while [in the EFL] but they can get around it.
“The FA, when they invited us black coaches to go for observation, I thought ‘You know what, it’s all a bollocks PR scheme - “Look at what we’re doing for the black coaches out there”’.
“But at least Gareth Southgate has now taken Chris Powell on full-time as one of his coaching staff.
“I couldn’t believe that when I turned up with the England U19s two-thirds of the England U19s squad were black players, I couldn’t believe how many black players there were.
“And then I looked around all the staff, and there was not one black member of staff. I’m just thinking it doesn’t add up at all.”
The 33-times capped England international added: “But I think with this movement now, we’ve had Kick It Out but, like I said, something feels different now and this movement now, the protests all around the world, I just think now that there is going to be a change.”
Photo: TWTD
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“And then I looked around all the staff, and there was not one black member of staff. I'm just thinking it doesn't add up at all.”
I'm afraid this kind of comment makes me mad! You give a person a job because they are good enough for that job (black or white) you don't give them that job just because they are black!
You've missed the point slade1. He's saying when there are so many black players, how come there are so few black staff? It doesn't add up. There should just naturally be more black staff due to the law of averages. The fact that there are so few suggests discrimination. No-one is saying give someone a job just because they're black.
So where exactly does the racism lie I wonder . With the Clubs or the players ( who might not accept opinions / judgement from a black coach / manager ?
So what if someone *did* get a job just because they were black? At least it would make some attempt to try to address the imbalance and remove years of some Likely NOT getting jobs because they are black.
I'm sure your question is an honest one: maybe they don't. Maybe they don't because they think they won't get taken seriously. We can't really know u less someone presents some statistics on it (if they even exist).
But if they don't, maybe think why: do they know they just won't have a chance, or are they simply put off even considering it because they see no positive role models to follow?
It's important to be clear that the Rooney rule is there to give aspiring BAME managers the opportunity to interview and put themselves in the frame for the job. It doesn't guarantee them the job.
Ghis is huge. A lot of the issue is unconscious bias/racism. Most owners i'm sure are not and do not consider themselves racist. But they may have unconsciously have views on certain BAME ex players etc. A lot of that stems from how the media have reported on BAME players. Look at someone like Sterling and the treatment dished out on him in the past. Sol Campbell hasnt always helped himself maybe BUT it is crazy he couldnt get a foot in somewhere. He had a very credible CV.
Get them at least an interview and they can get judged on merit! Its a good idea.
Society has to evaluate if we operate through meritocracy or quotas, neigh impossible to do both.
Approx 30% of players are BAME at the start of 2017/18 season in the Premier League, this is due to meritocracy, whilst the number of black managers presently in the football league is approximately only 6% it still outweighs the ethnicity ie Black 3.4% as per 2011 census.
We are severely under represented in the Asian Ethnicity in both playing and managing and to a lesser degree but still evident is also White British elements of our society.
If we operate on meritocracy then there should be more black coaches but what do we do with wider society as this is where minorities are under represented and acts contrary to football and is extremely high profile at this juncture.
Please remember the majority of the most deprived parts of the UK are predominantly White British areas with around 25% of the most deprived areas with a high Asian populus.
Kieron comes across as an articulate individual and I wish him well, sorry not a manager of Town until he gets more experience (recognise the catch 22 nature of this position).
Chris Hughton for me is the stand out black manager who should be gainfully employed presently, his CV is excellent and in my opinion was harshly treated in his last job.
I would welcome dyer now!!!! Not because he's black because I seriously think he couldn't do a worse job than lambert!!! It always has to be the BEST MAN FOR THE JOB REGARDLESS OF COLOUR!!! Sol Campbell the blah baby about thee England captaincy and the chance about management!! NO it's because John Terry was a better captain and leader!! Hardly pulling up trees either are we at Southend!! This card has to stop!!! Wolves manager Nuno IN AT ITFC tomorrow please!!!
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