Greg Clarke, FA chairman, has spoken about the progress being made to ensure coaching pathways for BAME managers and coaches continue to benefit aspiring talent from across the game.
Notable appointments this season include Kevin Betsy, who joined The FAas head coach of England Men’s Under-15s, and Paul Williams, who recently moved on from his position as interim Under-20s coach to join Swansea City.
The Coach Bursary Programme has allocated 100 UEFA B bursaries to BAME coaches in the grassroots game. Support continues for BAME coaches who are part way through their A License and a further 28 A Licence bursaries have been awarded. 15 coaches are currently undertaking their Advanced Youth Award and 11 clubs are supporting coaches with placement experience as part of a bursary.
The FA coaching menteeships were openly advertised and appointed, with the four successful BAME candidates: Taff Rahman, Zuber Patel, Annie Zaidi and Alena Moulton, gaining experience across the season, alongside the elite and grassroots coaching teams as well as with England Development teams.
"Collectively, football is doing some important and progressive work to address the under-representation of BAME coaches and managers in the elite game," said Clarke.
"Interventions by The FA, the Premier League, the English Football League, the League Managers Association and Professional Footballers Association, are designed to capacity build the number of BAME coaches, the access they have to gain relevant experience and increasing the opportunities to apply for elite coaching roles.
"Whilst we are making progress, this kind of change takes time and there is more to do. Discussions are on-going regarding some of the challenges, such as how best to increase the experience that BAME coaches and managers get at elite level."
The English Football League (EFL) is implementing its recruitment code. Roles are openly advertised and appointments are made on merit. Over time it will be possible to see whether this is enabling more talented BAME coaches and managers to challenge for roles in the elite game.
The Premier League’s Elite Coaches Apprenticeship Scheme (ECAS), includes six BAME and female coaches each intake, seeks to capacity build BAME and female coaches in the elite game through tailored mentoring, coaching and educational support to enhance their experience, knowledge and resilience.
Sixteen of the 21 BAME LMA Diploma in Football Management graduates are currently working in football, so the LMA recognises the importance of equipping BAME coaches and managers with the necessary qualifications, skills and expertise to succeed in football. Already the LMA has seen an increase in BAME attendance. Over 20% of attendees of the LMA’s Mental Toughness and Resilience and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Masterclasses were BAME.
The PFA has been lobbying for greater representation of BAME coaches and managers over the course of the past decade. Alongside the EFL Recruitment Code the PFA has been signposting jobs, providing support and encouragement to members as well as workshops to assist coaches with job applications and interview techniques. Its coaching directory has 150 qualified coaches, over a quarter of which are of BAME origin and future plans include mentoring, with key figureheads including Chris Ramsey and Chris Powell committed to supporting this work.
Furthermore, Kick It Out continues to raise the debate about this important subject through its ongoing campaigning and lobbying work.
