Blundering referee Willie Collum was in the eye of a storm last night after the late call-off of Hamilton’s visit to Dundee United.
The visitors had no problem with the decision to call the match off but questioned the timing of the postponement with the players and supporters in transit to Tayside.
Collum called the game off at 5.30pm which again raises the need for full-time officials.
As readers of The Scotsman know Collum is a schoolteacher and only arrived at Tannadice around 5pm after travelling from the west of Scotland.
Employing an elite team of half a dozen full-time referees would have ensured an earlier inspection and decision and saved some of the anger felt by Hamilton.
“I can’t stand by a 5.30 inspection,” Accies boss Billy Reid said. “I just don’t agree with the timing of it, with all respect to the referee.
“For it to be only two hours before kick-off is unacceptable. There seems to be one set of rules for some and a set for others.”
Part-time ref Collum added: “Our prime focus is to ensure the pitch is safe. On this occasion it’s unsafe for players. We’re as frustrated as everybody else.
“We’d like the match to go ahead but first and foremost we must consider players’ safety. On this occasion we cannot guarantee that.
“I’ve had a good run about the field with the assistants and the fourth official and there’s a real problem at this park.”
Hamilton secretary Scott Struthers explained: “Such a late decision could and should have been avoided. When I arrived at 5.15 I had no doubt it was game off.
“We’ve no problems with the decision. It was the right one. But given there was clear doubt over the game at lunchtime, with a forecast of heavy rain after 6pm, an inspection then would have been best for all concerned.
“We formally requested an inspection no later than 3.30pm. That email was sent to the SPL at 12.45. They got back quickly and said the inspection was already booked for 5.30pm and that it would not be changed.”
Having full-time referees on duty at all midweek matches would save supporters of both clubs a wasted journey.
If the SPL and SFA wish to improve the image of the game and avoid decisions like this they ought to avoid having part-time referees racing to pitch inspections after work to call games off just over two hours before kick-off.
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So the SPL don’t give a monkies about their customers and we wonder how the game is in the state it is!
Has no one anything good to say about Gollum.
He shouldn,t be near a football game at any level.