adminLONDON. — Sol Campbell has revealed the English Football Association rejected his plea to be involved in the England set-up two years ago, despite the lack of black coaches at St George’s Park.
His claim coincides with the admission of FA chairman Greg Dyke that the body running football in this country is “overwhelmingly white”.
Noel Blake, one of the only black coaches within the FA set-up, departed last month. Concerns remain that a generation of young black players coming through are being mentored by coaches that they unable to identify with.
Campbell retired two years ago with 73 caps and the experience of six major tournaments to his name.
He was left frustrated, however, when talks to offer the FA his services came to nothing.
Campbell, now doing his coaching badges with the Welsh FA, said: “I played with Gary Neville a lot. I went to England, two and a half years ago, cap in hand and said, ‘I want to work within the England set-up.’
“We had a couple of meetings with (Club England managing Director) Adrian Bevington — secret meetings. Back in London, four months later, Gary Neville gets the job.
“How has he got the job? What has he done other than have a fantastic career. What has he done coaching wise? He was given that job without experience.
“So why can’t someone like me have a job without experience in there? What’s the difference?
“Roy Keane is a fantastic, inspirational player. He has been controversial, yes. But he gets a job. And that’s fine because he did superbly to get Sunderland into the Premier League. He was a fantastic player.
“But if he was black and he was like that, I’m telling you now I don’t think he would have got a job.” — The Mirror.
Online Reporter