Meaningful change or ‘more of the same’: the voluntary recruitment code in men’s professional football coaching in England

This article offers an original empirical and theoretically grounded examination of the English Football League’s (EFL) Voluntary Recruitment Code (VRC): a positive action intervention designed to establish inclusive practices coach recruitment increase representation minoritised coaches in first team coaching operations at men’s professional football clubs England. In doing so, it draws on semi-structured interviews with Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) (n = 5), stakeholder representatives 14) 26) ascertain their perceptions, experiences, reflections relation three inter-connected areas focus. Firstly, operational attitudinal implementation VRC clubs. Secondly, effectiveness engendering its intended representational impacts Thirdly, critical as ways which might be reformulated reimplemented stimulate conditions through equality opportunities, outcomes for realised. Finally, will conclude from Critical Race Theory (CRT) perspective that racial measures this kind should strongly interventionist transformational policy intentions ideological scope, seek challenge disrupt dominant liberal discourses meritocracy, race-neutrality, colour-blindness, normativity Whiteness contexts. calls EFL work consultatively member clubs, stakeholders, develop holistic legislative pedagogical approach tackling racialised inequities coaching, incorporate regulated reformatory actions.