An Ince-spirational Appointment
Congratulations to Paul Ince on becoming the first Black British manager of a premiership team in taking over at Blackburn Rovers. I for one couldn't be happier now that the man dubbed 'The Guv'nor' on the field is now at the helm of a leading soccer club.
Our airwaves and newspapers have been awash with coverage about this - most welcoming his appointment, some even saying that Paul getting this job proves that there isn't any racism in football.
I suggest that the truth lies somewhat short of that. The dearth of Black managers in British football has to be down to the 'r-word.' Still Ince, who was the first Black player to captain the English national team, has to be commended for a number of reasons. Firstly, for having the guts to take a job at the lowest level of professional football in England, League Two Macclesfield Town. He saved them from what looked like certain relegation; next he leads MK Dons to promotion and cup glory.
I still believe that a Black person operating in most professional fields in Britain has to be somewhat better than his/ her white counterparts but Ince has showed that hard work, success and talent can still pay off.
Gwarn Guv'nor!
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Read Veron Graham, telling it like it is.
Why do you think that the dearth of black managers is down t the "R" word?
Surely the appointment was made on talent alone. Perhaps there is not enough talented black managers out there?
How many clubs nowadays can afford to take the risk of an untried manager wahtever clour their skin is?
Hey! Thanks for the post.
The reason I think it's down to the 'r-word' because the only difference between the recently retired professionals who get immediate shots at management is colour.
Cyrille Regis wasn't given much time as coach at West Brom. Fellow ex-England strikers John Barnes, Les Ferdinand and Luther Blissett have repeatedly applied for posts, for clubs as lowly as League One, only to seldom even get replies. Remember how Paul Ince was passed over for Mick McCarthy at Wolves, the guy whose Sunderland team just totted up the lowest number of points for a premiership team in a season!
This quartet were all internationals, ,Blissett and Ince had European experience in playing for AC Milan. Barnes had 79 England caps and Ince the first Black man to captain the national side.
Compare this with their equally skilled peers from the 1980s and 90s like Bryan Robson, Steve Bruce, Peter Reid (how many clubs has he relegated?!) and even Paul Gascoigne with all the troubles he's had.
Need I mention Gareth Southgate and Roy Keane who where player one day and manager the next?
Why is it that Alan Shearer's name always comes up as the man destined to take over at Newcastle and latterly Blackburn, as though it's somehow inevitable.
Ince's appointment is certainly down to hard work, but as the saying goes, the exception proves the rule.
You're correct, few clubs can risk taking on an untried manager or even one that has repeatedly underachieved but in the rare instances that they do, they are seldom Black ex-players. The one example is Paul Ince.
Perhaps there aren't enough talented Black managers out there but how do you explain why those who mess up get other chances while others are denied a first?
Do you think he will do well at Blackburn?
If you were the chairman, would you have appointed him and why?
How would you tackle this issue?
Veron
The fact is that being a brilliant footballer does not make you a great manager. Look at some that have failed, Bobby Charlton, Bobby Moore. Alan Ball had more jobs than most managers and was a failuer more or less everytime. I totally agree with you that more people should be given a chance, whatever their colour! I dont think the "R" word comes into it though. Look at the foreign managers we have at our clubs.
Do I think Paul Ince will do well at Blackburn? I hope he does, he is one of hte best up and coming managers and I would not be surprised if he became a future England manager.
Would I have appointed him? Yes he has worked at a lower level learning his trade and he will bring in new ideas.
How would I tackle this issue.
We need to make it easier for people to get on coaching courses. It would be interesting to see how many people attend coaching courses and the percantage of each racial group.
Thanks for the post.
You make some great points - in fact the best managers, Shankly, Paisley, Ferguson, Wenger, Mourinho, etc didn't exactly set the world alight as players.
But with Ball, Charlton and Moore, you're going back a fair length of time.
Did you hear Piara Power from the Kick it Out Anti-Racism lobby say that 30% of managers should be black to reflect the playing percentage?
I think that would be very dangerous. Do you? How could anyone make this a reality.
I'd just like all managerial candidates get a fair role of the dice. I too hope that Ince is a success, perhaps then we'll see more directors giving Black applicants a chance, just like when Regis, Cunningham, Batson, Anderson et all broke through in the late 1970s and inspired a wave of Black players following in their footsteps.
On a related subject, what's your opinion on Ron Atkinson? Do you think he's a racist or a pioneering figure in Black football?
Veron
Firstly the point Piara Power made, what is the percentage of French or other nations players, do we have a percentage of those nations managing as well?
I would like to see more Asian footballers as well. I am sure there are some very talented players out there but we never seem to see them make a breakthrough.
Ron Atkinson, what can I say. Yes he was a pioneer for black footballers in the late 70's and that should not be forgotten. I dont think he is a racist, just someone very silly. And I bet he bitterly regrets what he said.
Thanks for the post.
I find your comments interesting.
I think that there are similar issues in other nations re Black managers too but I do think we tend to make more of it here, perhaps because there are many Black candidates who don't make the grade.
Re Asian footballers, this is a puzzler too. I grew up playing football with some great Asian lads, a few I thought would break through.
Perhaps the likes of Sunderland's Michael Chopra could be used as a role model?
Would the Asian community go for that do you think?
Yes, Ron is a bit silly but I think the whole pioneer thing is a bit much. I mean, if Regis, Cunningham and Batson weren't any good, they wouldn't have got a game whatever colour they were?
Do you know if there were players back then who couldn't break through because of race?
Veron
Hi Veron
I think it is a bad move.
He's only had 18 months experience, albeit very successful.
His problem is that he is taking over a club that Mark Hughes couldn't take any further. When the Welshman took the hot seat at Ewood park they were at the foot of the table and has since got them into the top half and into Europe. They will never break into the top four in the next decade. The best Ince can do is to keep them in the top half and get them into the Uefa Cup every season.
My conclusion is that he can only fail to keep the standard up, even Alex Ferguson could get them any higher in the table. This will set his career back ten years.
He should have followed Hughes' example and only take on under-performing clubs, like Wales, Blackburn and Man City. Ince has nowhere to go. He should have waited until a larger club starts struggling and they sack their manager - it always happens.
Mark
give the guy a chance i would not mind paul ince doing a spell down saint andrews because the managers we have had down there in the last 10 years aint been up to scratch judging by are yo yo up and down from the championship and the premiership in the last few years with sleep inducing boring football,but look at roy keane he had little or no experience in management when he become sunderland manager so i say good luck to paul ince and if he does not do as well at blackburn as people expect i just hope they dont bring the fact that his skin colour is black to blame him for lack of success.....peter
Thanks for the post, 'Anonymous'
I take it that you are a Blues fan?
What do you think of the way Steve Bruce was gotten rid of? I thought it was absoluteley scandalous - after all he brought Blues back up and had been with them for a while. All the guy wanted was some assurance of his future.
What about Alex McLeish - what is he doing or not that's going to have a bearing on Blues this season?
V
tell you the thruth vernon i was fed up with steve bruce i am fed up with alex mcleish i think hes relised what a bad mistake he made giving up his job as scotland manager ok i might be a misery guts but when you fall asleep half way through the first half down saint andrews and at full time the steward wakes you and tells you time to leave the ground mate and yes it was another 0/0 draw then you can understand the doom andgloom down at st andrews this club could go bust by the end of the year believe me its in termoil down st andrews and they have only sold 9000 season tickets so far for this season that says it all....peter
It's a milestone that will hopefully pave the way for more managers, hopefully Asian & black.
I personally do not like Paul Ince as IMO he always thought he was something he isn't. But I think I'm happy that this is a breakthrough in the world of football.
Peter,
It's interesting to hear from a Blues' fan who was fed up with Steve Bruce. I thought he did a pretty decent job. As for McLeish, I'm not really convinced.
About the season tickets, have you bought one?
Has the price gone up and what about the affordability of following football now? I don't know if it's worth the money any more. Do you or are you managing the cost ok?
Perhaps I'll start a new blog page off the back of your comments.
Veron
Thanks for the post, DirtDevil,
Why don't you like Ince? What in the world does IMO stand for?! (I'm not fully up on the techno talk yet, you see!)
I'm glad that you can see past your own feelings though and recognise that this could be a landmark for minority managers.
Do you think Ince will do well?
Veron
my season tickets days are over vernon just cant afford to sit in that ground anymore £400 to sit in the cheapest seats in the tilton end.like last season i will pick and choose my matches when they have price reductions on certain games and many more ex season tickets holders will be doing the same thing,oh yes and i have just found out are first 2 matches are live on sky tv,the thruth of the matter is vernon the ordinary working class man or woman has been priced out of bying season tickets and with the ecomonic situation getting worse people just cany afford forking good money to watch bad rubbish down st andrews anymore that why this season st andrews will be half empty that the sad but harsh thruth...peter
Hello Veron
I must admit I was surprised to learn today that Paul has been sacked.
But its a results business they are in and unfortunatly 3 wins in 17 games is not good enough especially with all the money that is involved in the premiership. I think this appointment could have come a little too early for Paul but I hope he bounces back and comes back a better manager.
I was too, although in the last couple of weeks, it did start to seem as though it was purely a matter of time.
It is a results business but I wonder who they are going to get to replace Paul.
Any ideas?
Hopefully Paul can come back, perhaps in the Championship where they'll give managers a little more time.
Do you think that the way football is so money orientated is good for the game?