Former Middlesbrough fullback Dean Gordon says Blackburn's appointment of Paul Ince as the Premiership's first British-born black manager is an inspiration.

Gordon is already a boss in all but name - having recently been appointed joint head coach of UniBond First Division North side Newcastle Blue Star - and he told the Sunday Sun: "I think black managers have probably got to prove themselves at a lower level, like Paul Ince has done.

"Mark Hughes went straight into a Premier League job and Gareth Southgate has gone straight in, but Incey has worked his way up well.

"He's a shining light."

But Gordon has strong evidence that there is a darker side to being a black manager in the English game.

"I think the fact that most black players don't go into management is an ambition thing, but I have heard things," said former England Under-21 international Gordon.

"Paul Davis was very highly thought of for his work with the Arsenal youth team but didn't get on and saw other people going past him. And Leroy Rosenior did a decent job at Torquay, but is now doing other things. He told me a few stories and that he believed there was a barrier.

"But ultimately, I think it's up to black managers to make the breakthrough."