New BAME coaching scheme

Announced today


The Premier League, PFA and EFL have today launched a new coach placement scheme aimed at increasing the number of Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) players transitioning into full-time coaching roles in the professional game.

The BAME player-to-coach placement scheme, open to BAME PFA members at any age or stage in their careers, will provide up to six coaches per season with a 23-month intensive work placement within EFL clubs. It is jointly funded by the Premier League and the PFA with bursaries provided to each participant via the placement club.

The first intake will run as a pilot scheme, either in the club’s Academy or First Team environment, beginning at the start of Season 2020/21.

Each coach will participate in an individualised learning and development programme. Participants will work across a variety of football functions within the club to broaden their learning experience. This could include the coaching of different age groups, physical performance and conditioning, recruitment, analysis and administration.

Participants will also receive mentoring from the PFA’s Coaching team, comprising 14 former players turned Elite Coach Educators, who have extensive experience in developing coaches within a club environment. Members of the Premier League’s Black Participants’ Advisory Group, which includes experienced coaches Darren Moore and Paul Nevin, have also offered their support to the players and clubs involved in this programme.

Supported by The FA, this scheme has been developed over the last 18 months and complements the Premier League’s existing BAME coach development programme, which launched in 2015. The Premier League Elite Coach Apprenticeship Scheme provides a bursary for eight BAME and female coaches per intake and sees participants placed in Premier League and Category One Academies.

Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters said: “It is vital that there are no barriers to entry to the pipelines for employment in coaching. We need more BAME coaches entering the system to create greater opportunities throughout the professional game.

 

Good first step.

 

One thing that I think needs asking is why are so few BAME players becoming coaches? The article itself says that as well as the usual routes into coaching open to all professional players there is also a Premier League’s Black Participants’ Advisory Group as well as a BAME coach development programme. What is the reason for such abject failures when there is already so much help there aimed specifically at BAME players?

 

The report completed a few years ago basically said it was through a lack of role models, a lack of belief in being successfully appointed and a underbelly of old boys school mentality. Can’t remember exact figures but around half of the BAME who took the first set of courses failed to take the next.
If any/all of the above has any element of truth to it then this new scheme should help to start to break it.

 

I agree but it just seems there must be more to it when there's already these two schemes offering them extra support and role models and they still drop out.

On a related to the general theme note but not really related to this post as such which BAME former players of ours would you pick as coach or manager material knowing only what we do know about them?
Same question for white former players?

I've got a list in my head of both but curious how similar your list would be (mainly out of boredom)

 

Tough one that, in terms of BAME, I would go with Carbon, Gorre, Nyatanga and Betsy (got a really good reputation as coach already),
Non BAME off top of head, Kevin Richardson, Sheridan, Barnard, Cranie, Eaden. Could add Watson too b7t that would be a cheat as he is already successful.

 

Don't agree with it tbh.

So you get a bursary because of the colour of your skin or ethnicity.

I'm all in favour of trying to encourage participation through targeted recruitment campaigns etc, but completely disagree with the bursary. Either give it to everyone or nobody. (Means tested)

 

Bruce Dyer would be a brill academy coach. He's a big player in the community

 

I wonder how thats going to work given theres only a finite amount of clubs, clubs already with coaches on their staff learning the trade and finite 11 a side teams...

Are they just learning coaching fundamentals? Seeing if its for them? Is there a qualification at the end?

Given that unless they get to Level 4 FA Badge they cannot manage a first team or an academy it sounds like its just lip service.

 

Apart from Nyatanga, the other 3 examples coach at varying levels...

 

New about Betsy, not about rest, every day...

 

Thought Dyer was an obvious candidate but I dismissed him because of all his charity and church work, probably wrong as it wasn’t the question but that was my thought process

 

To get a level 3 (UEFA B) you have to be able to demonstrate you are paid or volunteer with access to appropriate players, so am guessing this helps in removing one of the biggest obstacles currently because as you say there are only limited spaces.

 

Its going to be interesting as some want to be coaches will no doubt get pushed out the way or sidelined for this.

Be some resentment from those who have had to pay for the same privilege and even after the 2 year intensive coaching course. They still cant take a senior management position... As they wont be qualified!

 

Difficult to recruit BAME candidates in the Premier League given that most owners are looking abroad for managers in countries with a worse BAME recruitment record than the UK. It's going to take longer for BAME managers to get a foothold in the Premier League than it is in the EFL.

 

Just over a week ago this site was inundated with tens of messages supporting BLM, taking the knee, supporting dismantling statues etc. Anyone who raised an objection to this support was called a racist.

Now we have a post about A BAME Coaching Scheme - of all the replies to the OP a mere 2 fully support the scheme.

Recently I posted a message suggesting that this site should have a BAME representative as part of Admin team - massive objection - abusive responses to my post - one from Admin one from a BFC employee! - (check back they're still there.)

But are some people threatened by BAME people being in a position of authority?
Hence the very lukewarm to the BAME Coaching Scheme.

Are those who support the recent BLM movement scared they will lose what they feel is their superior position?
Is covert racism alive and kicking?

 

Darren Moore? Or is he forgotten about now he is just down the road...

 

I know I said I was in favour of targeted advertising / recruitment strategies but disagree in terms of offering a bursary to try and get BAME on board. People shouldn't have to be offered bribes to make someones figures look good. If someone wants to follow coaching then jump in all heartedly, not just because some money changes hands. Same with other careers. I'm never also in favour in any situation this so called positive discrimination practice. Always believed in best person for the job and always will do. Discrimination is discrimination, regardless of who it targets.

 

I think there will need to get sone incentives initially before there is a level playing field.

 

Moore’s a fair shout.
I wasn’t giving out a definitive list just ones I remembered. I’m sure there’s lots I’ve missed.