BILLY DODDS is entitled to feel he has seen just about everything in his long career in football, with his experience giving him a sense of perspective even when he feels refereeing decisions, for example, have gone against his team.
It is why the Inverness Caledonian Thistle manager has only once felt moved to call referee chief Crawford Allan to pull him up for the performance of one of his officials, following Willie Collum’s dismissal of two of his players in controversial circumstances during last season’s Championship play-off semi-final against Arbroath.
That is, until Wednesday night. Chances were that Allan’s ears were red raw after Dodds had been in touch yesterday morning to discuss the performance of Kevin Clancy in Motherwell’s 4-0 League Cup win over Inverness at Fir Park.
Dodds, to be clear, had no argument to offer on who deserved to win the tie, but he was perplexed by a number of calls made by the official on the night, not least his award of two penalties to the home side.
The lack of accountability for officials after such displays irritates the 53-year-old, who says that Clancy should not be rewarded with high profile matches if that is the level of officiating he is producing.
"I know all managers go on at referees but since I have been in this job, I've phoned Crawford Allan once because I don't like doing it,” Dodds said. “I think you can all guess what game that was for.
"I've got to phone him now. I've seen Kevin Clancy refereeing Old Firm games. If your players don't perform they don't deserve to be in the team.
"From the first free-kick of the game to the penalties and some of the decisions he gave; there was one where the boy scoops it, Euan Anderson told him it was a handball and he ignored it.
"I can't look at that and say 'ah well, I'll stay calm and there's no problem'. I'm taking nothing away from Motherwell because they were good. Once they got their goals they were full of confidence, with good movement and good passing.
"They deserved to win the tie but I think the referee gave them a helping hand. There's a lot of them that phone Crawford all the time and I don't, because it's a hard job and I appreciate that.
"But sometimes you have to because you feel it's not been fair on you. I said that to Euan Anderson at the side and he's saying he understands. I don't usually crack with them but I can't watch that and not say anything or react to some of the things that were happening.
"It sounds crazy because we've been beat 4-0 and it sounds like it's sour grapes, but it's not, because I don't usually do it. I think I had a right to phone the last time and I think I've got a right to phone this time.
"If you stand back and say it's another refereeing performance and just get on with it, I'm not so sure.
“Motherwell played well but they don't need that.”
Dodds didn’t bother to go into the referee’s room to speak to Clancy after the match at Fir Park, as he was resigned to his protestations being dismissed out of hand.
"I'll tell the referee what I think man-to-man and I've hardly been in to see any of them,” he said. “I've been in to see two referees since I've been here and I don't shout at them.
"This time I'm watching it and saying 'I can't believe what you're thinking'. But you get a 'nae bother' and they just walk past you."
