Norwich City boss Chris Hughton - Only a matter of time before women make their mark in management

Paddy Davitt Saturday, March 9, 2013
9:30 AM

Chris Hughton believes it is only a matter of time before women make their mark in management within the professional game in this country.

The Norwich City chief responded positively on the eve of International Women’s Day when questioned on the possibility of trail-blazers like England women’s counterpart Hope Powell working in the same part of the industry as their male colleagues.

“Certainly in football I can see a woman managing a team. How long that is down the line is something I don’t know,” said Hughton. “If you look at Hope Powell being the one with the highest profile and she has done an incredibly good job with the FA and I know her name has been linked in the past with certain jobs.

“I can see it happening lower down the ladder to start with because it has to be a natural progression, but if you are talking about Premier League level perhaps we are a lot further away. I can certainly see a woman team manager in the future.”

Hughton insists City’s own joint majority shareholder Delia Smith is one of the best female role models in the domestic game.

“Yes, and she is a very good owner and someone who has shown a great passion for this football club over the years and is very well-respected by everyone at the club and the supporters,” he said. “It should just come down to the ability and the values a person has to do a job. It should be no different when you refer to the first female lineswoman. Has that made any difference? Of course it hasn’t and we have a lot of women involved in the game now in other roles like sports science and physiotherapy and I think it is a natural progression.”

City midfielder Robert Snodgrass echoed his manager’s sentiments on the potential for women to operate successfully on the management and coaching side.

“I think you need to start around the lower leagues and try to learn the trade in amongst male players. If that is the case then I don’t see any reason why not,” he said. “There are more and more women interested in football and watching the game – it’s for the people in charge to give them that chance. As a footballer you just have do your job and you don’t concentrate on what happens upstairs. It’s not something I can personally speak too much about really. It is for those in positions of power to make decisions.”