Premier ref to help cut cards (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Premier ref to help cut cards

9:44am Friday 19th December 2008 in Sport By Arran Jolly

KENDAL Town have turned to Premier League referee Mark Halsey in an effort to improve the team's discip-linary record, writes Arran Jolly.

Regularly seen on 'Match of The Day' calming down the likes of Didier Drogba and Wayne Rooney, Halsey is one of the most respected referees in the English game.

Town manager Lee Ashcroft knows Halsey well from playing in the same cricket team during the summer and approached the Premiership ref for advice on improving the teams disciplinary record.

It is hoped his advice on how to cut out the number of yellow cards will benefit the Kendal players.

Four Town players have been shown the red card so far this season while a number of others have picked up suspensions for accumulating bookings.

Town's commercial manager Paul Maclennan insists Town are not a dirty team, but he readily admits there are area that needs to be improved.

He said: "As a team we need to cut out the silly yellow cards we're picking up.

"Last season we got 89 yellow cards, but when you consider 50 per cent of those were for dissent or unsporting behaviour there is obviously a huge number that can be cut out."

He added: "If all the yellow cards we'd picked up last season were for fouls I'd have to hold my hands up and say we're a dirty team, but so many of the bookings come from disputes over decisions."

After the FA launched its 'Respect' campaign - an initiative that aims to reduce abusive behaviour towards referees and cut out unsporting behaviour - the club had initially planned to bring in an FA spokesman until it emerged the manager knew Mark Halsey.

“I met Mark though playing in the same cricket team last summer. He’s a great guy and hopefully him coming down will show the FA that we’re trying to improve matters of the field,” said Town manager Lee Ashcroft. And Mr Maclennan added: "Fouls are part of sport, there's nothing wrong about that but what we have to realise is that when the ref makes a decision it’s final.

“If we start questioning everything he does then you can guarantee that every 50/50 decision will start to go against you." The number of cards the team pick up also has wider financial implications as the FA hit any club who have six or more players booked in a single game with a fine.

Kendal currently face a fine of £1,000 from last month’s Hednesford game alone.