An important forward step

The appointment of Paul Ince as the manager of Blackburn Rovers is being heralded as an important evolutionary step in the game of football. Ince, who previously achieved the feat of becoming the first black captain of the English football team, stated upon his appointment that, ‘I’m delighted to have been given this chance.’

Following a successful period managing both Macclesfield Town and Milton Keynes Dons in the lower divisions of English football, Ince’s progression to the glitz of the Premier League can only be considered as a logical progression. His appointment, however, has given other black managers the opportunity to stress the lack of opportunities that exist for them within the game.

John Barnes, who has been dubbed by the BBC, ‘England’s finest black player’, has found making a career in football management difficult.

‘I’ve applied for numerous jobs and sometimes I haven’t even had the courtesy of a reply to my application letter,’ Barnes said. ‘Perhaps I could understand it is I was applying for jobs at the top level, but these were clubs in League One.’

The facts support Barnes’ claims. Upon his appointment Ince became the only black manager currently working in the Premier League and the only other one to be found in the entire English football league is Keith Alexander, Ince’s replacement at Macclesfield. It all leaves the hierarchy of English football management looking a whiter shade of pale.

‘I believe the situation for black managers is like it was for black players back in the 1970s. They were put out on the wing because it was deemed that they could run fast but not think too well,’ Barnes said.

Barnes’ comments are strong, but some consider them justified and necessary.

Aside from this, the question lingers of how Paul Ince’s career as a top flight manager itself will develop. Nestled snugly in the clutter of teams following the ‘Big Four’, opportunities abound at Blackburn and there is scope for him to impress.

Ince has already stated that his first challenge as manager is to secure the services of key players such as Roque Santa Cruz and David Bentley. After a career tingling with silverware and an auspicious start to his managerial career, who’d bet against Paul Ince becoming a success once again?

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