KICK IT OUT’s Troy Townsend called the sackings of Chris Ramsey and Chris Powell “disheartening” yesterday, pointing out that there is a serious “under-representation of black managers in the English game.”

Powell was sacked by Huddersfield on Wednesday morning while Ramsey was dismissed later that evening, with Neil Warnock taking charge of QPR for now.

Townsend — education and development manager at anti-racism campaign Kick It Out — explained the sackings as a “really disappointing day for BME people who are looking to be part of the game at the highest level.”

He said: “People will look and think: ‘Is it worth it? Is it because of the colour of their skin? Or is it because they are bad managers?’

“I know people will say results are not right but there is a lot more to it than that.

“Today is disheartening without a doubt.”

There are now just four ethnic minority managers in the top four English leagues: Brighton’s Chris Hughton, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink at Burton Albion, Carlisle’s Keith Curle and Notts County’s Ricardo Moniz.

Townsend said: “We are talking about the under-representation of black managers in the English game.

“We have 25 per cent BME players in this country. There are less than 4% in terms of major coaching roles. The stats don’t stack up.

“To lose both managers sends out a really strong message to those aspiring to get on this journey.”

Kick it Out chair Lord Ouseley said: “I’m sure the two getting sacked on the same day is a coincidence but it means we have just lost a third of the black managers in one fell swoop.”

However, former Chelsea defender Frank Sinclair insisted the sackings were solely about results and claimed Kick It Out’s stance was “damaging.”

He said: “They [Powell and Ramsey] are both terrific lads who have given me advice in the past, and you’re disappointed that they lost their jobs, but you’ve got to be realistic.”

“To make a statement that more or less says: ‘Is it because of their colour that they’ve been sacked?’ is something that I had to make a response to because I totally disagree.

Townsend’s comments “are damaging. People could read that and think: ‘If I take on a black manager is he going to turn around if it doesn’t go well and sa:y ‘The reason I got sacked is because of the colour of my skin’?

“That is out of order and you can’t have statements made like that.”