Part-time refs trying to handle full-time footballers is a recipe for the kind of chaos that has ensured in Scottish football this season.
That’s the opinion of one Hotliner. Others simply believe there’s an inherent bias and today most of those accusations were flying from Celtic supporters in the direction of Rangers. First up, though, was John Scott, Grassmoor , with his theory. He emailed: “How can we seriously criticise our officials while they continue to work part time in a professional sport? For years after our passing, Darvel will be talked about as the greatest shock ever in the Scottish Cup. Why? Because a part-time, lower league club beat one of Scotland’s top professional teams.
“So why, for crying out loud, do we still have part-time officials in our top league? If Aberdeen had taken six off Darvel we would have shrugged it off as part-time players simply not being good enough. Yet we expect our referees to do a Darvel every single game. It’s ludicrous and shows our game up as amateurish.”
John Melrose, Edinburgh , emailed: “Rangers fans can deflect all they want from the Video Assisting Rangers farce but they are fooling nobody. In the last few months we have had Ross County, St Mirren, Hibs and Hearts fans all calling the Hotline to back Celtic fans up on the clear bias to Rangers. The stats are shocking and conclusive and fans of all Scottish clubs are waking up to the situation unfolding here.”
Arrin Geddes, Irvine, said: “On a day when the Rangers fans should be getting excited about the bargain basement last minute business their club did, we have their fans telling us Wille Collum is great, Willie Collum is rubbish and Kilmarnock should be in the cup final. Rangers Comedy Club is well and truly open!”
Robert McEwan, Mount Vernon , said: “Guys on the Hotline are saying Celtic fans are obsessed with Rangers and calling us armchair fans. Yet with 60.000 at Paradise every home game , are they sure about that?”
Rab Roberts, Bo’ness, emailed: “Former ref Des Roache has made a salient point regarding Collum (that he should quit) but I was astounded to see Chris Lowe backing Des’ assessment. Is he sure he could handle seeing Rangers finishing mid-table next season? Oh and by the way Collum’s only a small part of the Rangers support network!”
But right on cue, Chris Lowe, Yoker, arrived with this counterclaim: “I hear Celtic issued a last-minute hands off warning to all clubs interested in Clancy, Mulvanney, Connor, Robertson and Collum, who have been instrumental in their success of the past years.”
The transfer window has shut and David Bryce, Troon , had this to say: “Celtic have missed a trick in the transfer window. We should have brought in a top class centre forward. Oh is very raw and it appears he will take a while to bed in! If Furuhashi picks up an injury we’re in trouble! I also believe we should have retained Jenz and sold Welsh, who is not good enough.”
Andrew Lamb, Fraserburgh, said: “Rangers pulled off the sale of the century when they got over £20million for Calvin Bassey, who is out of his depth at Ajax. Even Joe Aribo can’t get a game for Southampton. Grass isn’t always greener lads.”
Finally, Bill Park, Bathgate , emailed: “Hotline caller Frank McFerran, who keeps pushing Davie Martindale for the Aberdeen job, can forget it. Martindale’s teams have always been built on a strong and capable defence, unlike the present Aberdeen team.
"The whole of Aberdeen’s defence would struggle to get a place in my local Junior team. Whoever is coming in as next Manager of Aberdeen has a massive rebuilding job to do.”
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