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Ricky Hill reflects on the glaring shortage of black coaches and executives in professional football, stating that the notion of opportunities being solely based on merit is a common misconception. He believes that the current system is resistant to change.
We are in Hill’s living room in Bedfordshire, a short drive from Kenilworth Road where he made his name as a sublime and cerebral midfielder for Luton in the 80s. There were international caps too, with Hill becoming the fourth black player to win an England cap and the first of south Asian heritage. But when he decided to go into management in the early 90s, he found baked-in prejudices, an old boys’ network and too many closed doors.
He has continuously fought for fairness and equal opportunities. Despite thirty years passing, Hill is shocked at the lack of progress. While there is more diversity on the field and less blatant racism, the sport remains stagnant in terms of diversity in coaching and leadership positions.
In August of last year, he filed a lawsuit against Major League Soccer, the United Soccer League, and several clubs, claiming that their hiring practices are racially discriminatory. The cases are still ongoing. He also has concerns about the state of English football. Hill wonders how it is possible that 43% of Premier League players and 34% of Football League players are black, yet the number of black managers in English football can typically be counted on one hand. Additionally, a 2020 study by the PFA revealed that less than 2% of senior executives and administrators in high-level positions are black or from another ethnic minority.
“When I was transitioning into a managerial role, there were those who claimed that black individuals were not interested in coaching,” he explains. “But then we were instructed to obtain our credentials, just in case a position became available. We followed through with that, yet the current generation is still facing obstacles.”
Despite multiple efforts in recent years, such as Show Racism the Red Card, Kick It Out, the football leadership diversity code, the voluntary recruitment code, and the Rooney rule, the issue still persists. According to Hill, these policies may have unintentionally served as a cover for institutions rather than creating real change in the numbers.
According to Hill, black managers face greater challenges in obtaining job opportunities and returning to managerial positions if they are seen as having failed in their previous role. He uses the example of Wayne Rooney, who struggled after leaving Derby for DC United, but was still able to secure a new position with Birmingham. This highlights the issue that even without a solid track record, some individuals are given more chances than others.
Hill is an engaging and friendly individual. However, he is not afraid to be direct. The matter at hand is too significant for anything less. Is the English football industry unaware of the magnitude of this issue? Hill’s response is a resounding “yes.” He has always advocated for equal opportunities for black coaches and executives. Thus, it begs the question: why are some diversity programs optional? Equality should not be a choice.
The Premier League is dedicated to promoting diversity among coaches from black, Asian, and minority ethnic backgrounds. They are currently working towards addressing the lack of representation of black former players in coaching and other technical positions.
The text mentions Jon-Paul Pittman as a successful example, who began his coaching journey with the assistance of the Premier League’s program for players transitioning to coaching, and is currently working with Brentford. However, Richard Masters, the chief executive, has acknowledged that there is still room for improvement in the sport. According to Hill, there is still much more that needs to be done.
In the previous year, he sent a message to Masters expressing his belief that small, isolated attempts at diversity were simply a distraction. He also stated that the presence of a few black managers in the Premier League should not overshadow the long-standing mistreatment of black British former players over a span of 30 years, especially in a sport that claims to promote equality for everyone.
What steps should be taken? To begin with, Hill encourages the Premier League, Football Association, and English Football League to carefully analyze the efforts of the NBA and NFL in promoting diversity. Roughly half of the NBA’s coaches are black, and significant progress has been made in American football since Colin Kaepernick knelt in protest against racism in America.
Following the death of George Floyd, the NFL made a commitment in 2020 to allocate $250 million over the course of 10 years towards addressing systemic racism and supporting efforts to combat injustices faced by African Americans. Additionally, the league has established a new initiative to increase opportunities for diverse coaching candidates, offering up to $205,000 per team for two to three years if they hire a minority offensive coach or woman for a full-time position.
According to Hill, it would be beneficial for the Premier League to establish a fund that supports former elite players from diverse backgrounds in setting up development programs in their communities. Hill believes that the actions of the NFL show genuine intent, while the Premier League only creates an illusion of progress. Hill questions how much longer the lack of diversity in high-level positions in English football will continue before meaningful steps are taken to address it.
In order to promote fairness, Hill suggests that the proposed football regulatory body should mandate the presence of an impartial expert on any interview panel for senior management and executive roles.
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Hill believes that it is high time for the largest sponsors of the game to voice their opinions – whether it be Barclays and Budweiser in the Premier League or Apple and Adidas in the MLS. This is especially important as these brands often emphasize their dedication to promoting inclusivity and diversity.
He states that for there to be any real change, it is necessary for those who are not directly affected to feel just as outraged as those who are. This is where sponsors can play a significant role by using their influence to pressure the sports industry into making changes.
Hill, a recipient of numerous coach of the year accolades and trophies during his tenures with the Tampa Bay Rowdies and in Trinidad, passionately and eloquently makes his arguments. He remains actively involved in various battles, including his legal proceedings in the United States. At the core of Hill’s argument is the claim that less qualified white candidates were selected for positions he applied for, without even receiving a response or an opportunity for an interview.
“Following my departure from the Tampa Bay Rowdies in 2014, my representative submitted my resume for at least 18-20 job opportunities on my behalf over the course of several years,” he recalls. “The only response we received was from Atlanta, three months later, after my representative, Kieren Keane, continued to advocate for my application and not let them overlook it.”
“I find this decision to be unjust. I deserve a valid explanation for how it was made. If the criteria is based on merit, then my resume should be evaluated based on its own merits, just like everyone else. However, this has not been the case.”
Hill notes that there were still instances of rejection despite the implementation of the Rooney rule in 2007, which mandates that clubs must consider candidates from black or ethnic minority backgrounds for higher positions. The USL and MLS are currently facing legal action, with both organizations attempting to have the cases dismissed by arguing that they are not responsible for the hiring decisions made by their individual franchises.
The attorneys representing Hill state that neither league has taken a stance on whether there has been any discrimination in his cases. Hill himself adds that these legal battles have been costly, time-consuming, and required dedication, but he hopes that they will result in a sense of equality not just for himself, but for all.
Regardless of the outcome in court, the 64-year-old assures that he will persist in holding the game he is passionate about accountable, ensuring that future generations have the opportunities he was deprived of.
“I will continue to fight until the very end,” he declares. “I have no other choice. I have never felt inferior as a player, and that remains true when it comes to my passion for the game.”
“Surprisingly, I have faced numerous challenges rather than successes. However, my love for football remains strong and I credit my family for it. If the day comes when I am no longer able to compete, at least I can say that I gave it my all.”
Source: theguardian.com
