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One in a row Thursday, 28 August 2008 00:00 Written by Alex Fulton

Here’s looking forward to a season that is just as good as the last one, but with at least one more trophy on the shelf. Pre season form means nothing, but Celtic were far from impressive in their games in the Algarve and my number one side Boro and also Cardiff City. Talking of my number one side, it has been interesting to see Rangers linked with Adam Johnson, it has been suggested down here that a loan move is out of the question as the rules do not allow for recalls as happens in England. A permanent transfer would require a bid of well over £ 5 million and Boro do not want to lose him. He is a fast tricky player, if somewhat on the slight side, but would fit in well at Ibrox. He is probably in the long term the ideal replacement for Downing should he leave the club, but I know he wants regular first team football NOW, so let’s see what happens. He is probably in the long term the ideal replacement for Downing should he leave the club, but I know he wants regular first team football NOW, so let’s see what happens.

You will all be aware that my comments supporting Rangers fans at the end of last season got a tremendous response and opened up many old wounds between Rangers and Celtic fans. One aspect that kept being referred to me was the impartiality of Scottish Refs when it comes to the “Old Firm”. I recall having a conversation with a Scottish FA Offical when I spoke at the Scottish Football Writers dinner a few years ago, comparing what happens in England.

Down south, refs have to declare an interest at the start of every season. If you were ever a season ticket holder/member of any club or have a relative playing for any club you would be debarred from officiating in any of their games. Likewise if your team was involved in championship or relegation games you would not do any matches involving opponents in a similar position. The reasons behind this logic is not that you would do anything untoward to influence the outcome of any game, but purely because of the conspiracy theorists out there and any accusations that might be made. Also in England you would not Referee at a ground that was too close to where you lived. Now in a country the size of England those rules are quite easy to apply.

In Scotland, that is impossible, add religion into the equation and you could make a case that would make it virtually impossible for Ref to do ANY game at all!!!

What is the answer, well one that has been suggested is that for the “Old Firm” games at least foreign refs are used. That might go someway to appease some, until that Ref makes a decision that does not go down well and then someone would find out that he was a protestant, or had once shagged a Scottish girl who supported Rangers whilst on holiday in Tenerife, or had gone to the same school as Nacho Novo. The conspiracy theories would still continue only they would be different. The other point is that Scottish Refs irregardless of what the fans think of them, deserve the opportunities to Referee the biggest games to get the experience to further their careers both domestically and internationally, I world football they come much bigger than Rangers v Celtic.

You will see from my site www.jeffwinter.co.uk that I do many columns so hopefully you will log on and contribute during the season. Hopefully also I will meet some of you when I come up for games or am speaking in Scotland on the After Dinner circuit.

Here’s to One in a Row, the first of many.

Best Wishes

Jeff the Ref, who is not ashamed to work in the media and declare his love for Middlesbrough FC and Glasgow Rangers

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