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Well, every manager has to take his personality into the job that he does, but irrespective of that personality you have to be aggressive when you need to be.
I was brought up in a football environment where we saw a lot of racism - whether it was abuse from other players or huge groups of supporters in away matches.
I feel there has to be a concerted effort that we encourage, in whichever way, more black and minority ethnic coaches to take their badges at the higher levels.
I was a coach at Spurs for 15 years. I did want to go into management but what was important to me was doing a very good job in whatever capacity I was employed.
My concerns have always been to do the best job I can. But I am conscious that I'm a black manager and I am conscious that there is a profile that goes with that.
I worked under a lot of 'top-class managers at Spurs and had to take over as 'caretaker a couple of times when things were not going well. I know what's required.
As a manager, if I saw a female on the line for my match, that would not worry me in the slightest. To get to that level, it means they are deemed to be good enough.
I am immensely proud of my achievements with Newcastle and I enjoyed a fantastic relationship with the players, my staff and the supporters during my time as manager.
I remember going to stadiums and huge sections of the stand gave you racial abuse. It was never nice but it wasn't a surprise - particularly when I was first at Spurs.
One thing I would always say is speculation is always flattering because if someone is talking about you or linking you to a job then it's something that is flattering.
All we want eventually to see is more black and ethnic coaches involved at the higher levels of the game. Anything that promotes that is something very much worthwhile.
I was brought up working class in east London with my own thoughts and my own beliefs and, when I began playing, I got involved in charity work and expanded those beliefs.
When the game is played by such a high percentage of black and ethnic minority players and we're looking at the percentage of managers and coaches, at the top level it is minimal.
I think the nature of the game can be very unforgiving and of course, the longer you are out of the game - this is a very fast evolving game and particularly with the media we have.
I have spoken on many occasions about what I felt about a lack of black managers at the highest level. Total inclusion is good for our game and that is what I think everyone wants to see.
The bosses at Newcastle basically decided they didn't want me. Ultimately, there isn't anything you can do about that. The only thing you can do is move on. But I don't think I've anything to prove.
The most important thing is that you can make tough decisions, discipline people when you need to, but also create a spirit to get the ultimate thing you're aiming for, which is winning enough games.
I enjoyed a wonderful career at White Hart Lane. I had some terrific highs as a player in the eighties and to go from there and have so many years on the coaching staff is something that makes me very proud.
Well, it's about getting points. And there are different ways of getting points. Whether you're offensively good, capable of scoring enough goals to win enough games, or resilient enough not to lose too many.
Credit to all the clubs, if there are incidents anywhere I think the clubs are very quickly on that and are banning supporters who are making racial comments. I think clubs are very much on top of what they see.
You have to take each player as a separate case and understand how to deal with them, which is not easy when you start in the job and are confronted with a player telling you he has a gambling or a drink problem.
When I started my pathway, black players were often considered to be good wingers, good players, but not captain or management material. It has changed since then, which is pleasing, but we still have so far to go.
I speak to black and ethnic coaches who ring me, or write to me, for some advice. There is a frustration from a lot of young, very able, black coaches to find that pathway that will get them into full-time positions.
If I look at my era, you looked at the black players who were playing then and there weren't many - Clyde Best... Certainly as each generation has gone, there have been role models for young black players to aspire to.
Racial events in our game, which we are trying as hard as we can to eradicate, are always going to happen. You hope that it is something that doesn't escalate. Sometimes when times are harder they become more prevalent.
A big part of managing is managing defeats and assessing where you are. It's making sure that you prepare a group of players and that you create an environment that is a competitive one but that is also a realistic one.
What I do know as a manager, as a person, is that you have to try and be honest with everyone around you. If I leave a player out, they deserve an explanation. It's about communication, about being clear in what you want.
I went through 15 years as a coach at Spurs working under seven, eight different managers. And every time a manager went, you weren't sure whether you'd still be there. Some people might worry about these things but I never have.
Jose has managed at some big, big clubs, and at all of those clubs, there is pressure, it comes with the territory. But he has a wonderful way of dealing with that pressure, and when you manage these sorts of clubs, you've got to be used to that.
We have seen a lot more black and minority ethnic coaches at grass-roots level, academy level, development level, but of course at senior level there is a massive void. That is something that has to be addressed and there has to be a pathway for them.
When you speak to potential black and ethnic coaches who want to go into the game, one aspect that they always speak about are role models. They would like to see representation, more at a higher level. And any part I can play in that I am delighted to do.
I've lost two jobs, at Newcastle and Norwich, but that's the nature of the game these days. It doesn't remove winning the Championship with Newcastle from my record, nor finishing 11th in my first season at Norwich after we went on an incredible run before Christmas.
If you said to me there's a top quality player who you can bring in and we are confident he will add to your squad, but you have to work with him a bit and he can be a bit fiery, then you feel if you are bringing him into a good group the group can take care of that.
When I played and got abused by another player, called a 'black so and so,' I always said 'that's out of order' but I tried to ignore it. I'd be thinking: 'You're not going to bring me down to that level.' But there were occasions when something was said and the next tackle went in a lot firmer.
I understand the Rooney Rule and I understand why it is critical in America. I certainly think there are differences between the American system and in American football, there is such a large percentage of players who are of ethnic backgrounds. I think there is a difference here... I don't think its appropriate here.
I remember the days when a footballer who had an issue in his personal life may have been told to grow up and deal with it but in 2019, that approach won't work any more. A manager needs to make sure the problem is solved, as a player will not play at his best unless he is happy in his mind and in the environment he has around him.
Ossie Ardiles got the job at Tottenham. I knew Ossie well and he brought me back as his reserve-team coach. That was my intro into coaching. Over the years I have known lots of other potential coaches who couldn't see a pathway. They couldn't see role models. There were so many BAME coaches who would apply for jobs and not even get an interview.