PFA pushing for introduction of 'Rooney rule' in English football

Connor was appointed as Wolves assistant manager in 2008.

Professional Footballers' Association chief Gordon Taylor has called for the 'Rooney rule' to be introduced to English football.

Under the regulation in American football, NFL clubs must shortlist at least one minority candidate when appointing a manager.

Taylor has welcomed Terry Connor's appointment as Wolves manager, but wants English football to do more.

"We need to keep this moving forward," Taylor said.

"We hope that there will be an opportunity to have the Rooney rule introduced at Football League level initially."

One in three PFA members are black or of mixed parentage, as were 21% of all those members who took the UEFA coaching licences between 2009 and 2011.

But Connor, who has been appointed until the end of the season, is the only black manager in the Premier League.

Football League chairman Greg Clarke is broadly supportive of the idea and wants to have discussions with clubs about their recruitment process for coaches.

Taylor has held talks with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell about introducing the rule, and also raised it at this week's discrimination summit headed by Prime Minister David Cameron.

He added: "We now have a large representation of qualified coaches who are from ethnic minorities and we feel very strongly this is the way forward.

"It is very encouraging that Terry Connor has been given this chance by Wolves. It is exactly the same way that Chris Hughton came to the fore at Newcastle. As the players' voice, we are committed to tackling the issue of black players going into coaching and management."