County RDO'S

[Will_A]

My county FA has recently lost their RDO to a role within the National FA.
I've now learned that the county FA aren't looking to recruit a replacement RDO and are instead looking to merge it with another role and have hired someone with no refereeing knowledge or experience.

Do any other county FA's not have an RDO? Is there any precedent for this in England?

 

[RustyRef]

My CFA, which I think is the biggest in terms of referee numbers, went from having two full time RDOs to none overnight around 8 years ago after both were made redundant, along with almost all of the office staff. The new CEO that had come in didn't seem to value refereeing, and even tried to scrap referees being able to go for promotion on the basis it wasn't cost effective, and it wasn't until 2021 that they got a dedicated RDO back.

 

[CaptainsPlease]

Some CFAs seem to be trying to make themselves defunct with decisions like that and outsourcing their discipline to a for-profit company.

 

[Samuel]

We get a lot of turnover of the RDO in Suffolk with I think 4 or 5 in the 4 years. In the times between new hires there is a noticeable lack of new recruitment and referee focussed events. The old CEO was very good at picking up the empty space but will be interesting how the new one handles it as we are losing our latest RDO this month.

 

[DavidObs]

My CFA, which I think is the biggest in terms of referee numbers, went from having two full time RDOs to none overnight around 8 years ago after both were made redundant, along with almost all of the office staff. The new CEO that had come in didn't seem to value refereeing, and even tried to scrap referees being able to go for promotion on the basis it wasn't cost effective, and it wasn't until 2021 that they got a dedicated RDO back.

Crazy decision to get rid of RDO’s but common sense prevailed with getting one back.

 

[JamesL]

We get a lot of turnover of the RDO in Suffolk with I think 4 or 5 in the 4 years. In the times between new hires there is a noticeable lack of new recruitment and referee focussed events. The old CEO was very good at picking up the empty space but will be interesting how the new one handles it as we are losing our latest RDO this month.

I have always been tremendously complimentary of our CFA due to how exceptional our old RDO (same geo location as @Will_A) but since he has moved on there is a noticeable gap that doesn't appear to have been plugged nor any real communication on plans moving forwards

 

[DavidObs]

I have always been tremendously complimentary of our CFA due to how exceptional our old RDO (same geo location as @Will_A) but since he has moved on there is a noticeable gap that doesn't appear to have been plugged nor any real communication on plans moving forwards

Same thing happened in my location whereby I understand why the RDO left because budget not approved so organised events were being cancelled. Also, politics behind the scenes, so was operating with one hand tied behind his back. CFA’s with issues need to get their act together because if the National FA get involved it won’t be pleasant - even if they are actually unable to get CEO’s etc removed.

 

[bester]

A good RDO pays for itself.

More referees, more fines, money from FA for hitting KPIs etc

It pays a pittance, most do it because it can fit in with a refereeing career.

 

[RefereeX]

Northants RDO role was merged with other jobs at the NFA when covid hit, presumably as a cost saving measure, but we came out the other side and hired a new RDO, who is a current national list referee on the ERDP. Works well for him as a part time role alongside ERDP and he does an exceptional job with comms and CDP events with many National list and upwards referees, even a couple of SG1 officials.

 

[ARF]

Our RDO has recently left too (SG2 AR, recently made his PL debut), and haven't seen or heard anything about them looking for a replacement. Making me wonder if there are plans afoot for county-level refereeing to end up being centralised like discipline has been.

 

[The Gump]

My local RDO is excellent - like others, a young referee/AR at a high level, very proactive in terms of CPD, even if I’m grumpy they’ve added being a mentor as a compulsory part of 6-5 promotion, which rules me out as I simply don’t have the time between refereeing and family commitments.

As for the comments about central discipline, my other CFA (next door county) use it and the early returns are disappointing to say the least:

1. Player who was been sin-binned, then received RC for OFFINABUS outburst, then came back for more and called me an effing c, got two matches.

2. Separately, racially aggravated in an U14s game - not heard by me but reported having followed the proper procedure - with three witnesses vs the accused denials, with VEO evidence that *something* was said, and NFA, thus teaching said 13/14 year old that as long as the ref doesn’t hear it you’ll be fine, and teaching the victim that racism is accepted by the CFA.

Really not good enough.

 

[Kent Ref]

Is it a case that some CFAs cannot afford a RDO or is this just a choice?