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 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."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 - despite more than 20% of players being black.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." --------------was a programme a good few years about this, seems nothing has changed.The Luther Blisset one is proper deep because he was clued up about footy back in the day, nowdays i dunno but still.
The funniest story I have heard football related was when Ac Milan sent scouts to watch Watford they said sign the young Black lad who plays for EnglandDidn't say a nameThey made some wedge bid for himThey wanted Barnes not Blisette they clocked it after the agreement was in placeLMFAO
Hope Barnes gets a job as a manager, was a great player and he is looking to start low so dont see why he shouldnt get a shot, would be happy to see him succeed as a manager. Atleast deserves a chance. "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.Things like this are the reason i have so much respect for people like Barnes. Took the small thing he was given and performed alot better than people would have expected him to, showed he was capable of playing in other positions and black people could think well on the ball.
Supporting a club in the lower divisions myself, I want an experianced manager in charge.I don't want somebody who hasnt been a manager before or somebody who has a crap record.Our previous manager was a past player with no managerial experiance. He nearly got us relegated.So Barnes can shut up its about that hes Black.
Supporting a club in the lower divisions myself, I want an experianced manager in charge.I don't want somebody who hasnt been a manager before or somebody who has a crap record.Our previous manager was a past player with no managerial experiance. He nearly got us relegated.So Barnes can shut up its about that hes Black.
look what paul ince done in one season wid mk dons though, and he came half way thru the season and saved maccersfield from relegation.
Supporting a club in the lower divisions myself, I want an experianced manager in charge.I don't want somebody who hasnt been a manager before or somebody who has a crap record.Our previous manager was a past player with no managerial experiance. He nearly got us relegated.So Barnes can shut up its about that hes Black.
look what paul ince done in one season wid mk dons though, and he came half way thru the season and saved maccersfield from relegation.
Yer no denying he did well.But this happens say once in every five times an unexperianced manager takes over.
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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 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."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 - despite more than 20% of players being black.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." --------------was a programme a good few years about this, seems nothing has changed.The Luther Blisset one is proper deep because he was clued up about footy back in the day, nowdays i dunno but still.
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Kaiser
The funniest story I have heard football related was when Ac Milan sent scouts to watch Watford they said sign the young Black lad who plays for EnglandDidn't say a nameThey made some wedge bid for himThey wanted Barnes not Blisette they clocked it after the agreement was in placeLMFAO
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MrJibbles
I remember that story haha.
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Davicious X
But I like bananas
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Action Dan
Barnes has the charisma of a flea.One can only imagine how dreadful his CV must have read.
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Trim
Hope Barnes gets a job as a manager, was a great player and he is looking to start low so dont see why he shouldnt get a shot, would be happy to see him succeed as a manager. Atleast deserves a chance. "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.Things like this are the reason i have so much respect for people like Barnes. Took the small thing he was given and performed alot better than people would have expected him to, showed he was capable of playing in other positions and black people could think well on the ball.
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HBK
No different to the NFL in the 80s. It will change, slowly.
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Mongy
Supporting a club in the lower divisions myself, I want an experianced manager in charge.I don't want somebody who hasnt been a manager before or somebody who has a crap record.Our previous manager was a past player with no managerial experiance. He nearly got us relegated.So Barnes can shut up its about that hes Black.
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HBK
Barnes should work as an assistant and a coach. Cos he is on TV he probably thinks he is too high profile for that.
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Most Wanted
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HangTheDJ
From when John Barnes was playing Stillian Petrov on the left of a back three during his reign at Celtic, he doesn't deserve a job in football.
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Sinister
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Numero001
How bad was Barnes at Celtic and what was bad about him?
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scared of who?
Management ain't for everyone. Barnes is lucky he gets media jobs. Just be grateful innit.
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Gunner
The point is, if he was white he would have at least got a chance at one of those league one clubs.
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Mr Q
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Mongy
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scared of who?
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Jubez II
Has even done all the courses and ting
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Gunner
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streets.
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