Troy Townsend insists the sacking of Chris Hughton means efforts to improve black and ethnic minority representation in management are “at worse than square one”.
Hughton’s dismissal was widely condemned after he led the Seagulls to Premier League survival, as well as taking the club to the FA Cup semi-finals.
A poor end to the season though, without a win in 10 matches, has seen chairman Tony Bloom opt for a change, leaving Wolves’ Nuno Espirito Santo as the only black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) manager in the top division.
Townsend believes Hughton has been harshly treated for securing another season in the top tier for Brighton.
“We are now at worse than square one,” Townsend, who heads Kick It Out, told the Telegraph. ”People took my words out of context when [ex-West Brom manager] Darren Moore was sacked.
“What people don’t understand is the real difficulties for black managers getting through the bottle neck at the top of football. We are talking about measly numbers.
“If a player had left at this stage, walked out on the club, people would be in uproar. It’s so shabby. What are the expectations of Brighton? Surely it is to stay in the league.
“You are fourth from bottom and you have got to an FA Cup semi-final. I don’t get it. He has given Brighton another year of Premier League football and he gets repaid like this? Really?”
Swansea boss Graham Potter is now seen as the favourite to replace Hughton.
