It just won't go away

Stewart Regan
By FOS Editor
November 29 2010

After last night’s resignation by Dougie McDonald it is the turn of the SFA to make a statement on the referees!!

This time is Stewart Regan, Scottish FA Chief Executive who said today, “The last week represented a challenging and traumatic time for Scottish football. Now that the refereeing fraternity has made its point through a withdrawal of labour, it is essential for the image and indeed the health of the game that we all learn from this experience to ensure no repeat.

 

"In relation to Dougie McDonald’s retirement, we appreciate the difficulties senior referees are facing with increasing pressure exerted on them. Dougie felt that pressure in the aftermath of the Dundee United v Celtic game had become intolerable.

 

"In his statement, Dougie referred to a perceived lack of general support from one of the Scottish FA committees. We have already identified the need to make changes to our current disciplinary processes. These changes will lead to significant improvement for the Scottish FA and the game in general.

 

"We welcome the referees’ intention to sit down and play their part in delivering the changes required.

 

"I reiterate my personal determination to improve the efficiency and transparency of our decision-making. I have received Board support in this regard and it is imperative we are given time to put the changes in place.

 

"This review will also require the patience and support of clubs, fans and the media, all of whom I am sure will recognise that such measures will benefit the game as a whole.”

 

Mr Regan seems to think he has to make a statement every time something happens in the game. It may be that silence says more than the few hundred words he trots out every week.

 

Rather than make a statement I would rather he was working to fix things behind the scenes and stop washing the dirty laundry in public.

 

I do have sympathy with Mr Regan, he must have wondered what he has landed in, given some of the nonsense he has had to deal with already, but it is time for more action less words I think.