https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49007776
I think it's a huge shame that retiring players and those let go from academies aren't becoming refs. I've only ever come across one (Rob Clare) but he's not reffing anymore.
They have a huge advantage over anyone of us (that they've actually played the game at or near the top level), players would likely offer them a bit more respect because of those and they're probably fitter than most of us too (well me anyway!).
I don't agree that they should work up the levels like we have to though. You need to make sure they're competent before allowing them to move up the levels obviously, particularly from 4-3-2-1, but the time it takes must be off putting and I think that should be reduced (let them go 7-4 in 6 months or so) to encourage more to take up the whistle.
Sure plenty of refs would be against fast tracking but I think it's the only way we'd get ex-players into reffing and I think the benefits these refs would offer the game outweigh the potential negative impacts on existing refs.
I think it's a huge shame that retiring players and those let go from academies aren't becoming refs. I've only ever come across one (Rob Clare) but he's not reffing anymore.
They have a huge advantage over anyone of us (that they've actually played the game at or near the top level), players would likely offer them a bit more respect because of those and they're probably fitter than most of us too (well me anyway!).
I don't agree that they should work up the levels like we have to though. You need to make sure they're competent before allowing them to move up the levels obviously, particularly from 4-3-2-1, but the time it takes must be off putting and I think that should be reduced (let them go 7-4 in 6 months or so) to encourage more to take up the whistle.
Sure plenty of refs would be against fast tracking but I think it's the only way we'd get ex-players into reffing and I think the benefits these refs would offer the game outweigh the potential negative impacts on existing refs.