County Boss Nolan thinks English managers are overlooked for top jobs

By Jonny Leighfield

Notts County manager Kevin Nolan believes that English managers are seldom considered for top jobs in the Premier League.

There are currently five English-born managers in the top flight but none of them are in charge of a club in the top six.

Sean Dyche at Burnley and Chris Hughton at Brighton have both led their teams from the Championship and into the top half of the Premier League but Nolan thinks that learning the ropes in the second tier and achieving promotion is the only way to manage at the elite level for English bosses.

“There are lots of quality English managers, I feel they are overlooked,” Nolan told BBC Radio Nottingham.

“It seems if you are an English manager you have to ply your trade into the Championship and get yourself into the Premier League.

“Dyche has done really well at Burnley and now he is starting to getting the credit he deserves,” added Nolan.

Nolan was appointed Magpies boss in January and has since saved them from relegation before leading them to the top of the tree in League Two.

The ex-West Ham and Newcastle hard-man feels he still has a lot to learn as a manager but is confident that if he continues to put the hard yards in, he will eventually be rewarded.

“I feel I am part of a new generation that has to change minds and mindsets.

“The most important thing for me is getting this job right and not looking at next year or the year after.

“If I do a good job here and do it right, then all that will come in time. That means you build a reputation where you can put your CV and say ‘what’s different to his CV to mine’ – and not just because he has a sexier name.

“I still see myself as an apprentice as a manager but, for me, I truly believe that if I do my job and do it to my best, then those opportunities will come.

“I know there are a lot of sceptics out there saying it won’t happen because I am English, but you have believe in yourself,” he said.