The FA have reportedly set themselves a target of ensuring that one in four England coaches hail from minority backgrounds.

The governing body will soon introduce a new equality, diversity and inclusion strategy for the next four years and will look to appoint more minority coaches in a bid to increase representation, according to the Daily Mail.

It is said the FA will look to ensure that 25 per cent of England coaches are from black, Asian or minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds. This figure will reportedly rise to 50 per cent when it comes to the England women’s team.

The FA also want to have women making up half of their total workforce, while the reporting of diversity numbers across professional football is set to be made compulsory.

Growing a more diverse pool of referees is said to be another priority, as well as increasing the number of players and coaches from under-represented groups.

Other commitments set out in the FA’s new equality, diversity and inclusion strategy include ensuring members of the LGBTQ+ community are welcomed across English football.

The governing body have reportedly set a target of 14 per cent of their employees to be LGBTQ+ by 2028.

It comes after reports suggested that Thomas Tuchel was set to be quizzed over whether his England support team will include any coaches from minority backgrounds. He is yet to finalise the make-up of his coaching team ahead of his arrival in January.

A number of black or minority ethnic coaches have worked with England in recent years. Ashley Cole has been with the senior squad under Lee Carsley but will follow him back to the under-21s when Tuchel starts work next year.

The likes of Chris Powell and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink held coaching roles with the Three Lions during Gareth Southgate’s time in charge, while Joleon Lescott is a more recent addition having also been part of Carsley’s interim staff.

The FA are committed to offering opportunities to individuals from minority backgrounds with a view to increasing diversity in football across all levels.

In 2017, they introduced the Elite Coaching Placement Programme in collaboration with the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA). It was designed to increase opportunities for minority coaches and create an inclusive environment across all England teams.

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