Premier League preparing to set more ambitious diversity targets among coaching staff and in boardrooms

The Premier League is preparing to set more ambitious diversity targets among coaching staff and in boardrooms.

Richard Masters, the Premier League chief executive, wrote to clubs this week endorsing the Football Association’s new voluntary code tackling inequality within the game. The “equality standard programme” is set to be adjusted to adopt aspects of the code.

The FA is setting targets for increasing diversity in senior leadership and coaching positions. Forty clubs signed up initially with others from the English Football League since showing their interest to commit to the new targets.

Clubs in the top division have the existing Premier League Equality Standard as a framework for diversity and it is understood it will be tweaked next year to take in aspects of the FA’s code.

Masters has sent an email to clubs supporting the new code, where clubs have pledged that 25 per cent of new coaching appointments will be black, Asian or of mixed heritage, with at least 10 per cent in senior positions. Shortlists for interview will have at least one male and one female black, Asian or of mixed heritage candidate.

Southampton were the only top-flight club not to sign up to the diversity code but there is hope they eventually will. The club will continue to have discussions with Paul Elliott, chair of the FA’s Inclusion Advisory Board,  and will assess how the code aligns with the Premier League.

Paul Cleal, equality adviser to the Premier League Board, has also been working closely with clubs on policies, with a lack of representation in senior leadership positions highlighted this year, particularly after Black Lives Matter protests in England.

Players have “taken the knee” in support of BLM before matches, although QPR director of football Les Ferdinand has argued the message has now been lost and it is “not dissimilar to a fancy hashtag or a nice pin badge”.

Across Europe there are different attitudes towards the gesture and Marseille did not take the knee against Manchester City in the Champions League this week. However, the symbol still has support from some players who feel it shows purpose and keeps BLM in the public eye.