Chris Hughton has welcomed moves to encourage more black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) managers and coaches to go for jobs within the Football League.

Albion’s boss would love to see the sort of progress and opening of minds take place off the pitch as it has on it since his playing days.

The 72 Football League clubs have agreed to various measures to help open doors for potential BAME managers and coaches next season.

They include the introduction of mandatory new recruitment practices for coaching positions in academy football and a voluntary recruitment code in first-team football, which will be piloted by at least ten clubs next season.

Clubs must include at least one suitably qualified BAME candidate for academy positions, providing such an application has been received, on the interview shortlist. The measures also call for transparency when it comes to job appointments.

Birmingham City, Fulham, Huddersfield, Wolves, Chesterfield, Coventry City, Millwall, Peterborough, Accrington Stanley and Carlisle United have agreed to pilot a similar scheme for first-team appointments.

Hughton, something of role model for black managers, says his career path has been smooth. But he is pleased with the development on behalf of aspiring managers and coaches.

He told The Argus: “It is something that I very much welcome. Any ruling or thoughts that come from our FA and Football League I am sure would be very well thought through.

“They think there is a place for it. It has been a subject being discussed for quite some time. The percentage of BAME players is not reflected in other parts of the game, which is coaching and management.

“I have seen an improvement at grass roots and academy level. But I think, with any ruling, it happens because they feel it is the right timing and the right thing to do.”

Asked if he felt there were barriers in the way of aspiring BAME coaches and managers, Hughton said: “Yes, because of the obvious numbers. You have to listen to those potential coaches and to players finishing their careers who feel they have not had an opportunity.

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“That can be for a lot of reasons but the facts are there. In a very multi-cultural game, where there is a very high percentage of ethnic players, then I think it is only right that the FA and Football League should look for that stat to be addressed in management and coaching.

“It has taken a while – but the fact it has taken a while means that they have thought long and hard about it.”

Hughton’s standing as an international, First Division full-back helped smooth his passage into coaching and then management. But he is aware not everyone has had it so good.

He said: “In some ways the experiences I have had have been more from conversations I’ve had with others. My career path has taken care of itself so I wouldn’t have experienced that.

“But I’m among a lot of young coaches and potential coaches who feel it has been far more difficult for them “You have to be open and you have to be prepared to listen to them. I think the game owes it for there to be some change.

“There is a real enthusiasm in the game for things to change. I sensed that a while ago – and it has taken a while. That enthusiasm now has gone up another level.”

 

The new measures will be compared to the Rooney Rule in American football, by which clubs must interview minority candidates for head coaching and senior roles.

Hughton said: “I don’t particularly believe in the Rooney Rule but I believe in a form of that. You can dress it up as you like but the realities are the percentages aren’t high enough.

“You only have to look back previous decades when it was difficult for black and ethnic players to play in a team because of the stick they would get from opposition supporters.

"That is a long time ago and very much in the past. But it is something that happened and, when you look back, it is hard to believe it. Should it have got to this stage? Possibly not.

“But I certainly welcome the change and I’m really delighted they have done it.”

Hughton has certainly not forgotten what he went through during his playing days. But he is looking forward now.

He said: “We all had those experiences. I made my debut in the late 1970s and it (racist abuse) was very prevalent at a lot of the grounds you went to.

“It was something, unfortunately, you got used to. Not in a good way. You expected it and you had to have broad shoulders.

“But that’s in the past. I’m more about what is happening now and I am very encouraged.”