The FA will attempt to persuade Premier League clubs to "adopt a voluntary version" of American football's "Rooney rule," under which "at least one non-white candidate must be interviewed for every managerial vacancy," according to Louise Taylor of the London GUARDIAN. Wayne Allison, appointed as the FA's new black, Asian & minority ethnic project manager on Wednesday, is "set to spearhead an initiative designed to win hearts and minds" as he endeavors to convince leading clubs "of the need to increase the number of BAME managers in the game." He will hold "informal discussions with key figures at top-flight clubs in an effort to coax them" into following the Football League's lead on the issue. Allison's brief involves ensuring that "all clubs have access" to the FA's "ready list," a document compiled from the databases of the FA, Professional Footballers' Association and League Managers Association detailing all available potential BAME coaches and their qualifications. Allison: "Every job should be awarded on merit. But some BAME coaches aren't getting the opportunities to be considered for positions and others maybe don't feel there's any point in gaining qualifications" (GUARDIAN, 10/28).
