Darren Moore has backed Liam Rosenior to make a swift return to management after his dismissal by Chelsea, and believes that opportunities for black coaches in English football are increasing. The west London club sacked the 41-year-old on Wednesday following a poor run of results that jeopardised their hopes of Champions League qualification.
Rosenior's Historic Appointment
Rosenior became the first black English manager to be permanently appointed by one of England's 'Big Six' clubs when he succeeded Enzo Maresca in January. Moore, a trailblazer himself as the first manager of Jamaican descent to take charge in the Premier League at West Brom eight years ago, now works with the league on its No Room For Racism action plan.
A five-year update on the plan's progress, published on Thursday, revealed that 85 of 100 individuals supported by the league's two inclusive coaching programmes are now employed full-time in professional football.
Moore's Endorsement
Moore spoke highly of Rosenior and expressed hope that the day will come when managerial diversity is so commonplace that ethnicity is no longer a talking point. "I'm absolutely sure in the ability that Liam's got," Moore told the Press Association. "He's showcased what a fantastic young manager he is – he's just lost his job at Chelsea. That's it, and we move on."
He added: "It's always sad to see any manager lose their job, let alone Liam. But what I am sure of is that he's a top, top man. He's a great manager, he's a great head coach, and I'm sure he'll be back in the game really soon."
Broader Progress for Diverse Coaches
Addressing the under-representation of black and ethnically diverse coaches, Moore said: "More and more opportunities will come. Hopefully we're pushing towards the moment where no matter what coach of any diverse background is given or loses a job, we're just talking about it as freely as 'another manager's lost their job or gained a job within the structure the football' (without their ethnicity being referenced)."
Osei Sankofa, former Charlton defender and now head of coaching pathways at the Premier League, emphasised the significance of Rosenior's appointment. "It's always good to see people get opportunities, which Liam has now had at the very highest level," Sankofa said. "He clearly has a lot to offer and we're sure he will be back and be better for the experience next time around, and I'm sure he will also have been a role model to many aspiring coaches who can now see that there is an opportunity at the very highest level. We like to think he could be a source of inspiration as well."
