Former Liverpool forward John Barnes says there is a lack of faith in black managers compared to white managers, citing the opportunities given to Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard.
Lampard has had stints at Derby County, Chelsea and Everton while Gerrard has had spells at Rangers and Aston Villa, all in a short space of time.
Black managers on the other hand have not had as many opportunities, with Black Football Partnership revealing that only 4.4% of management-related positions were held by black people.
Barnes previously had managerial stints at Celtic, Tranmere Rovers and the Jamaica national team before going into punditry. He claims he was not given faith in some places like Celtic, stating he had a better win percentage than Gerrard in the Scottish Premiership.
“What would you say if I told you that I had a better win percentage than Steven Gerrard at Rangers? So, why wasn’t I given longer [at Celtic]?,” Barnes said on Upfront with Simon Jordan podcast.
“Apparently my 65 percent [win ratio at Celtic] is not great, but Steven Gerrard’s 64 [win ratio at Rangers] is great and that’s why he got the Aston Villa job. Regardless of experience and whether he should or shouldn’t have got the job, it’s amazing people say that’s not bad.”
Barnes went on to assert that Lampard would not have had the managerial opportunities given to him if he was a black person.
He also said black people need to have humble opinions rather than controversial ones such as former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan that has made a name as a controversial pundit.
Barnes says a black man cannot be like that otherwise it would draw massive backlash, painting a picture of former United States president Barack Obama having the character of his successor Donald Trump.
Barnes further said that football fans in the United Kingdom quickly lose faith in black managers because of a perceived inability to coach.
“I love Frank [Lampard] but do you really think with Frank Lampard’s record, that if he was black, he would have been given the same opportunities?,” Barnes continued.
“Black people have to have humility. I don’t think there could be a black Simon Jordan because you’re too opinionated – if you were black, you would get slaughtered more than you get slaughtered now. Society would not except a black Simon Jordan.
“You tell me that if Obama had the character of Trump he would have survived?,” Barnes said on the podcast. “White men are given longer and therefore leeway to be arrogant and be whatever they want. They are go-getters and if you’re black or female, you can’t be that way.
“In football terms, chairmen don’t sack managers, fans sack managers. Why are fans quicker to lose faith in black managers than white managers? It’s because of the perception of a black person’s ability to lead.”
Former Premier League midfielders Patrick Vieira and Paul Ince were the most recent top managers in English football but got sacked by Crystal Palace and Reading respectively in March and April.
