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QPR boss Chris Ramsey says covert racism is evident

QPR boss Chris Ramsey says being black will make it more difficult to find work should he leave Loftus Road.

Ramsey, 52, is in charge of the Premier League side until the end of the season after stepping up from a coaching role when Harry Redknapp quit.

Ramsey spent seven months out of work after leaving Tottenham in June before joining QPR in October.

He says "any manager of any race" struggles to find work but it is more difficult "as a black man".

"The problems of managers coming straight back into jobs are still going to be there. So it's two separate issues really. I don't think it will be solely based on my ethnicity," Ramsey added.

"Because I am sitting here I am not going to change my view of many years.

Black managers in English football There are currently six managers from black and minority ethnic (BME) backgrounds employed by English football's 92 league clubs: Chris Ramsey (QPR), Chris Powell (Huddersfield), Chris Hughton (Brighton), Fabio Liverani (Leyton Orient), Keith Curle (Carlisle) and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Burton).

"The fact that we are still at this stage of the game, highlighting that I am the only black Premier League manager shows that it is not the norm to have people from ethnic minorities in this position.

"Until this becomes normal, and it is not highlighted in such spectacular fashion, that racism will be evident."

Former England and Liverpool winger John Barnes said this week that "very few black managers" can get a new job after being sacked.

Last month, Les Ferdinand, director of football at QPR, said "covert racism" external-link denies black managers the chance to be interviewed and called for a Rooney Rule-style law to be introduced to help give them that opportunity.

What is the Rooney Rule? Introduced into American football in 2002, the Rooney Rule mandates that teams interview at least one BME candidate when a head coach or general manager position becomes available. You can download a podcast of Richard Conway's look at the history and impact of the Rooney Rule, and whether it could work in UK football here.

"The Rooney Rule is an important factor as there is an awareness that something needs to be done to affect the way people think in boardrooms," added Ramsey.

"I am not just talking about race. I am talking about gender, homophobia and many other issues - general equal opportunities.

"Maybe there needs to be more awareness in the game of different factors that affect why people get jobs or not."