Thanks for posting that. To be fair, it's not all about race. He gives some very good answers too; I particularly liked what he said in relation to the question about, can you be too nice to be a manager.
Typically this has not got past Barracuda at work comes up 'Intimate Apparel and Swimwear'. Did make me chuckle. Doesn't seem to like anything Python related either.
Charlton Athletic manager Chris Powell has got his club to the top of League One and on the cusp of promotion to the Cham pionship. For him it’s been a fantastic season but for the English game, racist incidents have made this a far from glorious campaign. One of just four black managers in all four tiers of the game in England, Powell talks to AskMen about what lessons need to be learnt, why Kenny Dalglish was wrong and why all managers must be judged on results alone.
AskMen: Racism has reared its ugly head this season in the English game. Are you surprised or was it always there? Chris Powell: Football in this country is fantastic. The Premier League is amazing, the football league, the conference; it’s a great pyramid system right down to grass roots. For a country that is so small, we have so many people who want to play on a Saturday, a Sunday, after work and who love to watch. It’s great but you can become complacent and that’s what has happened here. If this season can make us change our views on certain aspects of our game, if this season can make people give more time educating people, players, fans of all ages, then great. If, because of this season, we can all check ourselves and improve the game as a whole then great.
AM: What next then? CP: We need to re-evaluate our position in world football. I am all for us using these incidents to prove we can be a leading light. We must turn this season into a positive. Everyone involved, the players, grass-roots coaches, the press, everyone has to just think, “Am I doing the right thing for the game in this country?”
AM: You used to be PFA chairman. As an organization is it powerless to act on such high-profile incidents? CP: First and foremost, the PFA is a players union and has to look out for its members. Then you have to look at the incident and make sure that the proper outcome is reached. You have to look for the best feedback, the best outcome and if one of the members suffers then you must act.
AM: What about the clubs? Is the worry that they stand by their big players, whatever they may have done? CP: That’s a concern. You have to back your player to a point. Take the Luis Suarez case, initially, I think Kenny Dalglish was right to say, “I back Luis, we don’t know all the facts and he’s our man”. Once thought the facts come out, you have to say: "Hold on a minute, the panel has found him guilty and we cannot condone that. Enough is enough. It doesn’t matter how good that player is -- and cynics might call them assets -- but once the facts are out there, I think a club has to stand against things and say, “Enough is enough, we’re not happy”.
AM: How Chelsea act in the coming months then will be fascinating, right? CP: It was an unprecedented incident for Liverpool Football Club. There was not another situation for them to learn from and it unraveled a bit for them so yes, it will be interesting to see what Chelsea do as the John Terry case comes to court.
AM: You’re now in management and a success at Charlton. As a black player did you worry that your path to the dug-out would be tough? CP: Not really, no. I wanted to coach, I wanted to manage. You have to go out there and make a change. Like anyone in management though, you have to do well. Whatever colour you are, you have to be a success. Next Page >>
AM: Success being colourblind is a fair point, but does the problem arise when success stalls. Are black managers unfairly treated and given less time when things go wrong? CP: I’m not sure about that. I hope it isn’t the case. Some people can perceive it like that but to me, if you’re a manager, you have to do your best and get results. I have put myself into this position and want success. Last season things went wrong for me at Charlton but I got time. Maybe I am lucky, I have a great board and club and I think that is all I can ask for. From here, I hope that I can inspire the next generation of black players close to retiring to take that step. Do it. Increase the numbers.
AM: What are your thoughts on the Rooney Rule? (Established in 2003, it's the ruling that ensures National Football League teams in American Football must interview minority applicants for coaching positions) CP: It’s an interesting concept. American sports have always had a history of black coaches, on the sidelines, maybe not as head coaches but very much involved so I can see how it works out there. Will it here? Possibly. The government and the authorities would have to get themselves around a big table and thrash it out. I’m not sure that will happen. Getty Images AM: Is it unfair then to ask football to right what are actually society’s wrongs? CP: I think we have to play a part and effect, what we can effect. Society’s ills need to be looked at by society, by schools, by parents. We though can govern what happens in football, both on and off the field. Supporters, facilities, attitudes, coaching programmes; look at all those and the game as whole will improve. Football can be at the forefront of change but it can only do so much. What it can do though, can be immense. We’ve had a wake up call and now have to look to improve and get better. If something negative happens then can you learn from it and move forward? As a footballing nation can we improve things for tomorrow’s supporters, i.e. the young? We have a duty to them.
AM: We interviewed Gianfranco Zola recently and we discussed this notion that someone can be too nice to be a manager. He argues that if you shout at a player to do something he will do it once then stop. If however you quietly explain why doing it will make him and the team better he will never stop doing it. Agree? You have to be yourself. I’ve quickly learned that you have to volley a player or the group. I have given it to them. 4-0 down at half-time, I was not happy. I won’t repeat what I said but they knew how I felt. You have to remember though that they have to go back out there and perform and be constructive. You want them to know that if they do A, B or C they it will benefit the team. I am on a learning curve too but what I do know is that you must get your point across, and it doesn’t matter if it’s calm or crazy. I am led to believe that someone like Arsene Wenger is always very calm and it’s worked for him. The thing you can’t do is pretend to be something your not because players will see it’s an act. It’s about imparting knowledge and that has to be done in a style that suits and is you.
I'm sure you're picturing it now though Curb_It!!! ;-)
As for the piece, I agree with Stig. A lot more to it than just race and, as we've come to expect, the man just speaks the most common sense I have heard from a football man in a long time. Considered in everything he says and I expect that's how he got his point across at 4 down!
Comments
Charlton Athletic manager Chris Powell has got his club to the top of League One and on the cusp of promotion to the Cham
pionship. For him it’s been a fantastic season but for the English game, racist incidents have made this a far from glorious campaign. One of just four black managers in all four tiers of the game in England, Powell talks to AskMen about what lessons need to be learnt, why Kenny Dalglish was wrong and why all managers must be judged on results alone.
AskMen: Racism has reared its ugly head this season in the English game. Are you surprised or was it always there?
Chris Powell: Football in this country is fantastic. The Premier League is amazing, the football league, the conference; it’s a great pyramid system right down to grass roots. For a country that is so small, we have so many people who want to play on a Saturday, a Sunday, after work and who love to watch. It’s great but you can become complacent and that’s what has happened here. If this season can make us change our views on certain aspects of our game, if this season can make people give more time educating people, players, fans of all ages, then great. If, because of this season, we can all check ourselves and improve the game as a whole then great.
AM: What next then?
CP: We need to re-evaluate our position in world football. I am all for us using these incidents to prove we can be a leading light. We must turn this season into a positive. Everyone involved, the players, grass-roots coaches, the press, everyone has to just think, “Am I doing the right thing for the game in this country?”
AM: You used to be PFA chairman. As an organization is it powerless to act on such high-profile incidents?
CP: First and foremost, the PFA is a players union and has to look out for its members. Then you have to look at the incident and make sure that the proper outcome is reached. You have to look for the best feedback, the best outcome and if one of the members suffers then you must act.
AM: What about the clubs? Is the worry that they stand by their big players, whatever they may have done?
CP: That’s a concern. You have to back your player to a point. Take the Luis Suarez case, initially, I think Kenny Dalglish was right to say, “I back Luis, we don’t know all the facts and he’s our man”. Once thought the facts come out, you have to say: "Hold on a minute, the panel has found him guilty and we cannot condone that. Enough is enough. It doesn’t matter how good that player is -- and cynics might call them assets -- but once the facts are out there, I think a club has to stand against things and say, “Enough is enough, we’re not happy”.
AM: How Chelsea act in the coming months then will be fascinating, right?
CP: It was an unprecedented incident for Liverpool Football Club. There was not another situation for them to learn from and it unraveled a bit for them so yes, it will be interesting to see what Chelsea do as the John Terry case comes to court.
AM: You’re now in management and a success at Charlton. As a black player did you worry that your path to the dug-out would be tough?
CP: Not really, no. I wanted to coach, I wanted to manage. You have to go out there and make a change. Like anyone in management though, you have to do well. Whatever colour you are, you have to be a success. Next Page >>
CP: I’m not sure about that. I hope it isn’t the case. Some people can perceive it like that but to me, if you’re a manager, you have to do your best and get results. I have put myself into this position and want success. Last season things went wrong for me at Charlton but I got time. Maybe I am lucky, I have a great board and club and I think that is all I can ask for. From here, I hope that I can inspire the next generation of black players close to retiring to take that step. Do it. Increase the numbers.
AM: What are your thoughts on the Rooney Rule? (Established in 2003, it's the ruling that ensures National Football League teams in American Football must interview minority applicants for coaching positions)
CP: It’s an interesting concept. American sports have always had a history of black coaches, on the sidelines, maybe not as head coaches but very much involved so I can see how it works out there. Will it here? Possibly. The government and the authorities would have to get themselves around a big table and thrash it out. I’m not sure that will happen.
Getty Images
AM: Is it unfair then to ask football to right what are actually society’s wrongs?
CP: I think we have to play a part and effect, what we can effect. Society’s ills need to be looked at by society, by schools, by parents. We though can govern what happens in football, both on and off the field. Supporters, facilities, attitudes, coaching programmes; look at all those and the game as whole will improve. Football can be at the forefront of change but it can only do so much. What it can do though, can be immense. We’ve had a wake up call and now have to look to improve and get better. If something negative happens then can you learn from it and move forward? As a footballing nation can we improve things for tomorrow’s supporters, i.e. the young? We have a duty to them.
AM: We interviewed Gianfranco Zola recently and we discussed this notion that someone can be too nice to be a manager. He argues that if you shout at a player to do something he will do it once then stop. If however you quietly explain why doing it will make him and the team better he will never stop doing it. Agree?
You have to be yourself. I’ve quickly learned that you have to volley a player or the group. I have given it to them. 4-0 down at half-time, I was not happy. I won’t repeat what I said but they knew how I felt. You have to remember though that they have to go back out there and perform and be constructive. You want them to know that if they do A, B or C they it will benefit the team. I am on a learning curve too but what I do know is that you must get your point across, and it doesn’t matter if it’s calm or crazy. I am led to believe that someone like Arsene Wenger is always very calm and it’s worked for him. The thing you can’t do is pretend to be something your not because players will see it’s an act. It’s about imparting knowledge and that has to be done in a style that suits and is you.
Read more: http://uk.askmen.com/sports/fanatic_400/415b_racism-in-british-football.html#ixzz1qyoM3bIJ
As for the piece, I agree with Stig. A lot more to it than just race and, as we've come to expect, the man just speaks the most common sense I have heard from a football man in a long time. Considered in everything he says and I expect that's how he got his point across at 4 down!