Former West Bromwich Albion manager Darren Moore, is the new manager of League One's Doncaster Rovers. Darren Moore is working again. We are thankful. Many like myself did not believe he should be out of a job in the first place, after his baffling dismissal by West Brom. With the way that BAME coaches continue to be overlooked, as Moore has a family to provide for, we should just be happy that he is in work again. We do have to ask the question however, as he had West Brom 4th in the Championship and his tenure was cut short, why has he had to drop down to a side in League One to get work again?
Recently, Middlesborough let go of Tony Pulis and appointed former player Jonathan Woodgate, Woodgate had no former experience in the managerial field, but was able to gain the job, surely sentiment played a huge role here. Hull let go of Nigel Adkins and recruited Moore's predecessor Grant McCann, Birmingham put Garry Monk on gardening leave and as it stands will start the season with Monk's assistant Pep Clotet in charge.
Nottingham Forest parted ways with Martin O'Niell, and have replaced him with former Rennes manager Sabri Lamouchi. This is a special case, as the silver lining here is that Lamouchi is another BAME coach, although he was born in France and represented them at international level, he is from a Tunisian background.
If we look at the Premier League, where Moore started his West Brom tenure, Brighton sacked another BAME manager Chris Hughton a day after the 2018/19 season ended and decided to appoint Graham Potter. No one had a clue who Potter was until his Swedish side Ostersunds won away at Arsenal in the second leg of their 2017/18 Europa League round of 32 match. Potter, now after leading Swansea to 10th place in the Championship, as he plays an 'attractive' brand of football, he has been deemed the man to do a better job with Brighton's squad than Hughton. Maurizio Sarri's turbulent Chelsea reign was ended after just one season, despite he won a trophy, guided Chelsea to two finals and secured Champions League qualification. Sarri's replacement was no other than former Chelsea legend Frank Lampard. Lampard, led Derby to 6th in the Championship and was beaten in the playoff final by Aston Villa. Let me just put out there Gary Rowett led Derby to 6th a season earlier and they let him go. Lampard himself, had no experience before getting the Derby job. Indeed, Lampard‘s former job at Derby has been given to former Dutch international midfielder Phillip Cocu. Coco, as a manager has won three Erevidisie titles with PSV Eindhoven, therefore he has more claim pound-for-pound when you look at it to being Sarri's successor than Lampard, yet he has a job in the Championship.
However much we try to shy away from pulling the discrimination card, we cannot avoid the favouritism and blatant disregard within the managerial picture. Yes, the Chelsea job might have been a push for Moore, but despite Lampard being an ex-Chelsea player, Moore has more experience (no pun intended). Just because you are a former player it does not guarantee you will be a successful manager at that club. Alan Shearer at Newcastle is a great example. An ironic thing is, Moore used to play for Doncaster in the nineties, so let us hope he can do well. Premier League aside, please tell me why Moore could not have been taken on for the Brighton, Middlesborough Derby or Hull jobs. It is rude to say that Doncaster are below his station, but he did well at a higher level, so why has he been made to drop down a division, when managers like Lampard, McCann and Potter are moving up a level?
Rafa Benitez after a stint full of false promises at Newcastle, decided not to renew his contract, and Newcastle have yet to find his replacement. It is understood Steve Bruce is a leading candidate for the role. Bruce, was sacked by Aston Villa last season, but he did do a stellar job to end the campaign with Sheffield Wednesday. With all the numerous jobs he has had, he has not always hit the mark, so why should he be the one to replace a manager who has won everything at club level? What is annoying is that some of the people who made noise about Moore and Hughton being sacked, are not being as vocal now that numerous jobs are being taken by non-BAME managers. Sol Campbell did what no one expected he could, and kept up League Two Macclesfield, yet there has been no link to him getting any other work. The signs are obvious, but when you state it, some people will deny it and make out that you are wrong in your insinuation. A lot of denial is done in the subconscious, but this will change one day...won't it?
Moore has signed a one year rolling contract at Doncaster, which seems to becoming more the case nowadays, I for one am glad that he is back in work, as he should never have been relieved of his West Brom duties anyway. I hope he does a good job there and gets them promoted, whether he does or not, his managerial future may be panned out already and then there will be 'moore' questions to ask.
@DubulDee
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