CHRIS HUGHTON admits he is concerned with the lack of black coaches in football.
And the Brighton boss feels our game is miles away ‘from where it should be’ on the issue.
Londoner Hughton is one of only THREE non-white managers in the 92 clubs top four tier clubs, along with Keith Curle at Carlisle and Grimsby’s Marcus Bignot.
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This week FA chairman Greg Clarke claimed appointing a black boss as England manager ‘would put us forward 20 years’.
And when Hughton’s name was mentioned, given the 58-year-old’s impressive work with the Seagulls and previously at Newcastle, Birmingham and Norwich, Clarke said: “Why not? It would be wonderful to see a black England manager.”
Hughton, who won 53 caps for the Republic of Ireland but hails from Forest Gate, East London, insisted he had never considered the prospect of bossing the Three Lions.
But he opened up on his worries over the paucity of black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) coaches in England and urged stakeholders like Clarke to make progress.
Hughton told SunSport: “The lack, particularly at the top level, is very much a concern.
“One thing I’m more pleased about these days is that it is on the agenda and is spoken about more.
“But at the moment the results haven’t dramatically changed.
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“They certainly have at lesser level, academy levels and grassroots level. But not at the top level. It’s a debate that need to continue. Credit to some of the stakeholders in the game, they are speaking about it more, but more needs to be done.
“As a black manager, yes, I would like to see a fairer representation in our game, as all our stakeholders would. I generally believe that.
“But we are probably too far away from where we should be.”
The English Football League now adopt a ‘Rooney Rule’ for academy jobs where clubs must interview at least one suitably qualified BAME candidate if such an application is received.
Ten clubs have voluntarily extended that to first-team roles.
Hughton added: “I speak to black and ethnic coaches who ring me, or write to me, for some advice.
“There is a frustration from a lot of young, very able, black coaches to find that pathway that will get them into full-time positions.
“I feel that there should be more pressure applied in the game. Firstly to encourage but also legislation.”
The Seagulls chief, who won the Championship Manager of the Month award for December, added: “As a black manager, somebody talking in good terms about me I don’t think can be a bad thing.
“My concerns have always been to do the best job I can. But I am conscious that I’m a black manager and I am conscious that there is a profile that goes with that.
“Any value that can have to potential black and ethnic coaches then I’m really delighted with that.”
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