A new scheme has been introduced to boost the number of black and minority ethnic coaches and managers in the EFL

A new scheme to boost the number of black and minority ethnic (BAME) coaches and managers in the EFL has been welcomed by anti-racism group Kick It Out.

The plan, which was first approved in principle last year, was formally approved at the EFL's annual general meeting in Portugal on Friday.

There are currently just three BAME managers among the 72 EFL clubs - Keith Curle of Carlisle, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink at QPR and Brighton's Chris Hughton.

Ethnic diversity is not much better in senior coaching positions either, despite the fact that BAME players make up at least a quarter of professional squads.

From now on, a suitably qualified BAME candidate must be interviewed for all advertised coaching positions in academies and 10 clubs have agreed to take part in a similar scheme for first-team roles on a pilot-scheme basis.

The clubs to sign the "voluntary recruitment code" for next season are Accrington, Birmingham, Carlisle, Chesterfield, Coventry, Fulham, Huddersfield, Millwall, Peterborough and Wolves.

The inspiration for this policy has come from North America's professional gridiron league the NFL, where the so-called "Rooney Rule", named after Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney, has helped get more African-American coaches into the game.

"This is a ground-breaking decision by the English Football League that will ultimately be beneficial in introducing best recruitment practices in all football clubs, and producing appointments to coaching and managerial positions on merit," said Kick It Out chairman Lord Herman Ouseley.

"We welcome these reforms and would like to congratulate the English Football League chairman Greg Clarke and staff behind the scenes, who have worked tirelessly on this.

"This is not a panacea to deliver a proportionate number of BAME coaches and managers overnight, as some people argue for.

"However, it provides a first, but important, step towards giving confidence to qualified BAME coaches that they will have the opportunity to apply for vacancies, will be considered fairly on merit to be interviewed and will not be affected by bias and prejudice when final appointment decisions are made."

Ouseley's words were echoed by acting Sports Minister David Evennett.

"This is a really positive step from the EFL and I applaud the clubs for agreeing to it," he said.

"It is crucial that diversity in sport is championed and that football at every level has representation that mirrors the society that we live in.

"There remains a lack of coaches from a BAME background working at the higher levels of the English game and this move will ensure everybody is given an equal opportunity to break through."

For his part, Clarke, who is set to stand down as EFL chairman, said it was "absolutely essential that EFL clubs continue to reflect the communities in which they are based" with open and transparent recruitment practices.