RUFC - PFA Pushing 'Rooney Rule' Introduction

Professional Footballers` Association chief, Gordon Taylor has called for the 'Rooney Rule` to be introduced in English football - initially, you won`t be surprised to hear, at Football League level.

Speaking after Terry Connor was appointed the Manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers last week, Mr Taylor said it is something he would like to 'keep moving forward.`

So, what is the 'Rooney Rule`?
It is named after Dan Rooney, the owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and was established in 2003 and it requires NFL teams to interview one black or ethnic minority candidate for head coaching and senior football operation opportunities that become available, as part of a transparent and open recruitment process.

According to statistics, one in three PFA members are black or of mixed parentage, as were 21% of all those members who took the UEFA coaching licences between 2009 and 2011.

But, at present, there are only two black managers throughout the football league (Chris Hughton at Birmingham City and Chartlon Athletic's Chris Powell) and just Connor in the Premier League. Thirteen out of thirty-two clubs in the NFL are led by a head coach or manager from an ethnic minority.

Speaking to the BBC, Mr Taylor said, 'We now have a large representation of qualified coaches who are from ethnic minorities and we feel very strongly this is the way forward. As the players' voice, we are committed to tackling the issue of black players going into coaching and management.`

Speaking to 5 Live last year, Mr Taylor made this point 'I find it astonishing that we can import the likes of Jean Tigana and Ruud Gullit and there's no problem, but our own lads who have grown up in this country have not been given a chance to be fairly represented.`

So, should we 'experiment` with the 'Rooney Rule`? Come and tell us what you think at Vital Rotherham


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