EFL CLUBS SUPPORT EXTENSION OF BAME MANAGERS AND COACHES PILOT

EFL Clubs have indicated, in principle, that they will extend the pilot of their first team recruitment code aimed at tackling the under-representation of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) managers and coaches to all 72 Championship, League One and League Two clubs at their forthcoming meeting in September, following a recommendation from the EFL’s Board of Directors.

The recruitment code, which draws inspiration from the NFL's 'Rooney Rule', will see clubs commit to interview at least one suitably qualified BAME candidate in instances where they run a recruitment process for any managerial or coaching position in first team football. 

The code was initially operated by ten clubs during 2016/17 with eight managerial appointments being made by four of the pilot clubs – three involving a recruitment process.

EFL Chief Executive, Shaun Harvey said: “Operating the pilot across ten clubs has proved useful in terms of understand the practicalities of implementing ‘Positive Action’ recruitment measures in football for the first time.  It has also enabled us to demonstrate to our clubs that they can be integrated into football’s unique recruitment model.

“The challenge for us now is to establish whether this approach will help us tackle the under-representation of BAME Managers and Coaches in the long term and in order to do this we aim to extend the pilot across the full breadth of our clubs for a further period.

“We believe that this a positive step forward and, alongside the encouraging progress being made through the implementation of mandatory regulations in Academy football, will help English football identify the right approach to broadening the diversity of the managerial and coaching workforce.”

The first year of the new regulations in Academy football has seen more than a hundred Academy jobs being advertised publicly with enhanced interview opportunities being offered to BAME candidates.

The new regulations require Academy positions to be advertised on the EFL website and the relevant club website with clubs required to interview at least one qualified BAME candidate (where an application has been received). 

In the first season of operation:

 123 Academy jobs were advertised on EFL.com

• The EFL has received data relating to 76 of these jobs from clubs (to date).
• 1,497 applications were received for the 76 jobs.
• In 170 of the applications, the candidate defined their ethnicity as BAME (11%).
• 18% of the 1,497 applications led to an interview, increasing to 31% for all BAME applicants and 52% for the 99 applications made by BAME candidates that were suitably qualified for the role in question.

11 BAME candidates (14%) were appointed to the 76 jobs.