Mickey O'Neil Posted 23 June 2008 Posted 23 June 2008 John Barnes Battles for post as a black boss During Paul Ince's rise to the rarefied heights of the Premier League, John Barnes has been struggling to even get recognition in the foothills of the game. Ince became the top flight's first black English manager when he was appointed as Mark Hughes' successor at Blackburn on Sunday. Barnes, on the other hand, has been applying for vacancies in the lower leagues without success. It is a situation that has left England's finest black player perplexed, frustrated and angry. "I've applied for numerous jobs and sometimes I haven't even had the courtesy of a reply to my application letter," Barnes told BBC Sport. "Perhaps I could understand it if I was applying for jobs at the top level but these were clubs in League One." Barnes, whose playing career included spells at Watford and Liverpool, did get a big break when he was appointed head coach of Celtic in 1999 in tandem with director of football Kenny Dalglish. He was sacked eight months into his troubled tenure, the final straw being the now infamous 3-1 defeat by Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Scottish Cup. The former England winger admits he made mistakes in at Celtic but not enough to consign him to the managerial scrapheap forever. "There aren't many managers who have never made mistakes, especially early on in their careers," said Barnes. "You learn from your mistakes and come back stronger and better from them. There are also plenty of managers who keep failing but continue to get employed. "I'm passionate about football and management and am willing to make my way up from the bottom but I'm not getting any opportunities." While the 44-year-old is delighted by Ince's appointment, he is sceptical about whether it will herald a new dawn for black bosses. His experiences, as well of those of other aspiring black managers like Luther Blissett, have persuaded him that there is not equality of opportunity. "I believe the situation for black managers is like it was for black players back in the 1970s," he stated. "Black players used to be put out on the wing because it was deemed they could run fast but not think too well. "They weren't trusted to be a playmaker in central midfield or to wear the captain's armband. Winger Barnes won 79 England caps and made over 300 league appearances for Liverpool "Now I think there is an analogous situation in management. Chairmen don't believe we can do the top managerial jobs. "I look at someone like Luther Blissett, who is a former England international and has played abroad at the top level. "He has been applying for manager's jobs in the Football League for 15 years and not got anywhere. This is all about opportunities." Although Ince's appointment has been heralded as a major breakthrough for black managers, there is still a dearth of coaches of non-white bosses in the game. Keith Alexander, who succeeded Ince at Macclesfield, is the only other black manager in the Football League. Even more startling is the statistic, provided by Warwick Business School, that there are only seven other black coaches of any capacity in the league. This constitutes only about 1% of the total number of coaches. Perhaps drawing on his own experiences at Celtic, Barnes says it is unfair to hold Ince up as a pioneer for all black managers. He said: "If he doesn't succeed, does that count against all black managers? I don't think so, just as if he does succeed it doesn't mean all black managers are good." Barnes, who is currently working as a television pundit and a part-time scout for Sunderland, says he has the utmost respect for what Ince has achieved. "He has done things the hard way, proving himself with Macclesfield and MK Dons," commented Barnes. "While Roy Keane and Gareth Southgate were given chances at the top, he went to the bottom club in the league. "I really hope he can succeed at Blackburn." ********************************* From the BBC
Bryn Posted 23 June 2008 Posted 23 June 2008 I think it's complete bollocks that black manager's are overlooked because they're black... I think it's mere coincidence that there are few black managers in our leagues.
Corky Posted 23 June 2008 Posted 23 June 2008 I think it's complete bollocks that black manager's are overlooked because they're black... I think it's mere coincidence that there are few black managers in our leagues. I agree. This isn't racism, there must be another reason, like they aren't impressing in interviews or there are better applicants out there.
Alexikokopops Posted 23 June 2008 Posted 23 June 2008 The reason John Barnes can't get a job is because people have seen him attempt to talk about the game as a pundit.
Flynny Posted 23 June 2008 Posted 23 June 2008 The reason John Barnes can't get a job is because people have seen him attempt to talk about the game as a pundit. The reason John Barnes can't get a job is because people have seen him attempt to talk.
Dr The Singh Posted 23 June 2008 Posted 23 June 2008 The reason John Barnes can't get a job is because people have seen him attempt to talk about the game as a pundit. His persona doesn't come across as decent management material!! Plus he had a torrid time at Celtic as manager! Colour has nothing to do with it!!!
Alexikokopops Posted 23 June 2008 Posted 23 June 2008 His persona doesn't come across as decent management material!! Plus he had a torrid time at Celtic as manager! Colour has nothing to do with it!!!
Master Fox Posted 23 June 2008 Posted 23 June 2008 Wasn't John Barnes manager at Celtic, and totally sh*t? Probably has more to do with it. I hate when people play the 'becuase i'm black i can't do certain things' card, it's boll*x. Also, Ince isn't the first black manager in the prem
Dr The Singh Posted 23 June 2008 Posted 23 June 2008 Wasn't John Barnes manager at Celtic, and totally sh*t? Probably has more to do with it. I hate when people play the 'becuase i'm black i can't do certain things' crad, it's boll*x. Also, Ince isn't the first black manager in the prem Tigana!!!
Darkzzz_ Posted 23 June 2008 Posted 23 June 2008 I think it's complete bollocks that black manager's are overlooked because they're black... I think it's mere coincidence that there are few black managers in our leagues. Wow.... She really wants me... Jessica is telling me to jump through the computer screen!!
Darkzzz_ Posted 23 June 2008 Posted 23 June 2008 Gullit was the first black manager in the premiership!!
Tilley Posted 23 June 2008 Posted 23 June 2008 I'm sick of this first black manager crap. Really annoys me. Its Paul Ince managing Blackburn Rovers. Who cares what colour his skin is.
MikeyT Posted 23 June 2008 Posted 23 June 2008 I'm sick of this first black manager crap.Really annoys me. Its Paul Ince managing Blackburn Rovers. Who cares what colour his skin is. Exactly mate. If a person regardless of skin colour is good enough to manage in any league then they'll be hired. Maybe Barnes is just shite! The reason John Barnes can't get a job is because people have seen him attempt to talk about the game as a pundit. Hahaha agreed!
DB11 Posted 23 June 2008 Posted 23 June 2008 Oh shut up saying you aren't getting employed because you're black
Simi Posted 23 June 2008 Posted 23 June 2008 Oh shut up saying you aren't getting employed because you're black Yeah! You tell him.
The Stig Posted 23 June 2008 Posted 23 June 2008 As far as I'm concerned if it gets him off Football on Five then him going in to management is a great idea. Anyway, I'm sure its not racism. Ability not race I believe is judged.
Head Honcho Posted 23 June 2008 Posted 23 June 2008 I'm sick of this first black manager crap.Really annoys me. Its Paul Ince managing Blackburn Rovers. Who cares what colour his skin is. Well said. .........................and Barnes is just not managerial material!
Matt Posted 23 June 2008 Posted 23 June 2008 Bloody hell, people don't care about race, everyone is equal - thats what everyone wants correct? Does it matter if he is black or white? He's English, hopefully turning into a great English manager (Ince) does it really matter about the colour of his skin? No. Why keep mentioning the fact?
RedHux Posted 24 June 2008 Posted 24 June 2008 You're right, Barnes can't get a job because he had one and was shocking at it. Ince never misses an oppurtunity to point out he's black. It'd be funny if anyone actually cared. I think he still thinks it's the 70s.
FilboFox Posted 7 July 2008 Posted 7 July 2008 I've just read this article on the BBC that said that Barnes has been applying for jobs in the lower leagues of football but hasn't been able to get them... I have a funny feeling having read it that he may have applied for the job here! I for one WOULD NOT have been happy if he had been appointed! He has no experience and from what I've heard him say about some football matches he's been commentating on, he's not the most tactically astute person out there. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7463038.stm P.S. Sorry if this has already been posted before... and also, what does everyone else think about this... would you have liked Barnes as manager of City?
Unabomber Posted 7 July 2008 Posted 7 July 2008 Bert who is the guy second from the right back row in your sig?
Daggers Posted 7 July 2008 Posted 7 July 2008 Bert who is the guy second from the right back row in your sig? Cobbo
Darkzzz_ Posted 7 July 2008 Posted 7 July 2008 Barnes made a bad start and finish to his managerial career at Celtic. That really killed him, i really think any manager starting out should learn his trade at the bottom.
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