Welsh Premier League Football - Lay off the refs, says Deakin

WELSH Premier clubs have been warned to stop their managers criticising match officials in the media.
League secretary John Deakin, himself a former Football League referee, has written to all 18 clubs over what he describes as a worryingly increasing trend this season.
"There have been a number of instances this season of club managers being openly critical of the performance of match referees in the media," he says.
"While I accept that there are instances when managers feel generally aggrieved by decisions made by match officials, a 'rant in the media' is not the way that they should be addressed.
"The FAW has a delegate at every league match and the assessment of the match officials is one of their main responsibilities.
"Clubs are also free to submit a written report to the league's office in the event of a low mark being awarded by them. Officials who are identified as being not performing to the required standard are informed accordingly and advised that they could be removed from the list if there is no improvement.
"In the event of further instances of open criticism of match officials in the media, serious consideration will be given to referring the matter to the FAW disciplinary process," adds Deakin.