Should Sol Work With England Under 21 by Dan Smith
The ex-Arsenal and Tottenham star Sol Campbell has been invited to work for the England under 21’s in November. For a man who has been very vocal about his struggle to get many opportunities since retirement, you know this is a role he will take very seriously. Sometimes in life it’s not how you get the ball, it’s what you do with it. No-one thought Gareth Southgate would lead the senior squad into a World Cup semi-final when he first became technical director. Our former defender has the confidence to believe he can make something of this opportunity. But is he getting it for the right reason?
He’s been critical in the past of believing it’s the colour of his skin why he’s lost out to other candidates for jobs, having to go all the way to Trinidad and Tobago to get a taste of coaching. He questioned the FA themselves about if that’s why he never captained his nation more. Instead of picking him based on his experience of winning at the highest level, it seems this is simply our games governing body being able to tick a box.
It’s crazy that in 2018 Dan Ashworth needs to introduce a NFL style Rooney Rule to force those with a BAME background (Black, Asian and Minority Ethic) to be selected for recruitment. So men suddenly not considered suitable now will get a interview purely based on an action plan to make those at Wembley look politically correct. That they need an action plan in the first place contradicts what should be a company following equal opportunities laws.
I have read Sol’s autobiography and learnt this is quite a complex character who analyses situations in great detail. Would it make him two faced to accept the invitation to be part of the staff for the USA/Croatia Fixtures? A voice who challenged the game to take a look at themselves now might sell his values to work for a bunch of suits, who are patting themselves on the back for doing something that in most businesses wouldn’t require it’s own separate legislation. So it’s great an ex-gooner is on the career path he’s wanted for so long.
But when Paul Elliot, chair of the inclusion advisory board, says, ‘I think In future we will look back at this moment as a defining one for coaching in this country’.
I agree with him but probably not how he wants me to do…
Dan Smith