Darren Moore says the fact that he is viewed as a trailblazer for black British managers shows how much more needs to be done in football’s diversity drive.

Moore, 46, is one of only two Brit BAME bosses in the top two divisions of the English league ladder along with Chris Hughton, after being offered an odds-against Championship relegation fight with Sheffield Wednesday following his outstanding work with League One Doncaster.

However, while he embraces the role model status, equally he wants his managerial record to be judged against all his peers.

Sheffield Wednesday manager Darren Moore has called for greater diversity in coaches at the highest level of the English game

Sheffield Wednesday manager Darren Moore has called for greater diversity in coaches at the highest level of the English game

Sheffield Wednesday manager Darren Moore has called for greater diversity in coaches at the highest level of the English game

Wednesday lost 3-0 to Reading last weekend and host leaders Norwich City on Sunday

Wednesday lost 3-0 to Reading last weekend and host leaders Norwich City on Sunday

Wednesday lost 3-0 to Reading last weekend and host leaders Norwich City on Sunday

Ahead of his third game in charge, on Sunday lunchtime against runaway leaders Norwich, he said: ‘With the lack of managers and coaches at this elite level, if I am looked upon as a pioneer in 2021 then it shows that we still need work doing.

‘We need more visibility. There is an array of talented black coaches out there at every level, there really is.

‘Do I look at it that way? Not really. I look at getting the job done and focusing on that. Being as competitive as ever and wanting to get better. 

‘If that is then a positive energy amongst the black community and minority ethnic coaches, then that’s fantastic.’

Moore is ‘trying to fight this persistent barrier’ as a member of the Premier League’s Black Participants’ Advisory Group, a panel that works with all the governing bodies to promote greater inclusion in the game.

Wednesday are fighting against relegation from the Championship and have seven points to make up if they are to climb to safety

Wednesday are fighting against relegation from the Championship and have seven points to make up if they are to climb to safety

Wednesday are fighting against relegation from the Championship and have seven points to make up if they are to climb to safety

The target of the BPAG, he says, is to ‘see what is represented on the field of play and try to replicate that in senior management and coaching departments.’

Several Championship clubs have stopped taking a knee before kick-off, a gesture that began last June in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, but Wednesday will continue.

‘Remember, it is a unified response from the players and what we’re all doing is supporting that,’ Moore said.

Moore was involved in five promotions as a player and left both his previous managerial roles with his clubs in the play-off places – controversially so when sacked at West Brom two years ago last week.

Nottingham Forest's Chris Hughton is the only other British BAME manager in the top two divisions at present

Nottingham Forest's Chris Hughton is the only other British BAME manager in the top two divisions at present

Nottingham Forest’s Chris Hughton is the only other British BAME manager in the top two divisions at present 

But a man whose deep Christian faith includes daily prayer sees similarities with his current post – his initial period at the Hawthorns came in a caretaker capacity with the club destined for Premier League relegation and he had three weeks to address a depleted squad at Doncaster in July 2019.

‘I find myself here in a situation where we are languishing at the bottom of the league, but the only way is hard work, dedication, desire, commitment, focus and intent,’ Moore said.

‘Right here, right now, the points are there for all to see, the games are there for all to see, and this football club has a chance of getting out of it.

‘While that chance is there, we’ll be pushing to make that chance a reality.’

Meanwhile, the versatile Liam Shaw is set to play days after it was revealed he has signed a pre-contract agreement with Celtic, with Moore convinced the boyhood Wednesday fan will continue to give his all to the cause.

This post first appeared on Dailymail.co.uk

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