Enough support for Premier League managers´ mental health, says LMA chief Bevan

League Managers Association (LMA) chief executive Richard Bevan feels enough support is given to Premier League managers in regards to their mental health.

Prior to his sacking at Chelsea, Graham Potter revealed his mental health and family life had suffered as a result of the pressures of Premier League management.

West Ham’s David Moyes also discussed the impact of being an under-fire Premier League boss, citing the harmful effects media scrutiny can have.

But Bevan, who has been in his role since 2008, believes the LMA is doing its bit to help top-flight managers cope with the strain.

“I think since COVID, the world of sport, not just football, has put health and wellbeing at the forefront of all decisions,” Bevan said when speaking to Stats Perform at the Football Business Awards.

“Certainly, in the LMA, we have two in-house psychiatrists and two in-house psychologists.

“It’s not just about the managers and coaches, it’s looking after the people that work in that environment. We are very, very active in making sure that communication and the services that we offer are utilised as much by the families as well as by the coaches and the managers.

“So it’s really important to be as well as physically fit, emotionally fit, and mentally fit, in order to do the jobs, whether you’re a coach or working in any environment today.”

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There has been a record number of managerial dismissals in the Premier League this season.

One of those, Patrick Vieira’s sacking by Crystal Palace in March, left the Premier League without a black manager.

Bevan explained the LMA is encouraging clubs to diversify their coaching staff.

He said: “From our perspective, it’s making sure that we have a very vibrant pipeline of coaches coming through.

“We’re pushing the stakeholders to have a far greater number of coaches from diverse backgrounds that have, for example, the [UEFA] Pro Licence, so that pipeline which the employers are looking at can make a difference over the next five years.”

As of the final day of the 2022-23 season, 10 Premier League bosses are from overseas, while the competition has been won by a foreign manager in each of the last 10 seasons.

Bevan lauded the impact managers from other countries had brought to the English game, adding: “They all bring excellence.

“I think we’re very lucky that the Premier League and, indeed, all of our leagues are immensely popular around the world, and they attract overseas owners, overseas coaches, and overseas players, so ensuring that the very best in their profession I work in our leagues is really special.

“We’re really grateful that we have a really diverse mix of managers and coaches.”