Generation of black and asian managers "lost because of discrimination" within football says Southend manager

Southend manager Chris Powell says a generation of black and asian managers has been lost because of discrimination within the game.

He is the only black league manager in greater London and believes that's because black players are not given enough coaching opportunities.

Speaking to ITV London News, he said, "I think it's harder for black players to get into management, and I think that's because sometimes there is an unconcious bias. It maybe you don't know that person, you don't know their culture, so you have to prove yourself, as a black man and as a black manager".

More than 30 per cent of professional players are black, asian and minority ethnic (BAME) and yet only 8.7% of managers are BAME.

Earlier this week the FA announced it wants a BAME coach within all of it's national sides. Powell's success at Southend and Charlton has no doubt put him at the top of their list.

The English Football League is also making changes, by adopting and adapting the NFL's Rooney Rule, which ensures a BAME candidate is interviewed for every academy coaching role. Chief Executive Shaun Harvey says, "A BAME candidate has got a 33 per cent higher chance of actually getting an interview than before so it's really making a positive difference. Does it move the dial in later years, that's what we've got to wait to find out".

Chris Ramsey, QPR's Technical Director, believes football should go further, adding, "It should cover the whole game. If first team managers come into that, fine. It should be something implemented throughout the whole game. Board members, referees, officals, everything".