Source: Team_Talk
Smith: We'll never get on with refs
Smith believes the current furore regarding recent controversial decisions is out of all proportion and revealed he would like to see his fellow managers resume their vow of silence on the matter.[LNB]Motherwell's Jim Gannon and Csaba Laszlo of Hearts have been particularly outspoken in recent weeks, with the former yesterday calling for a summit involving all of the stakeholders in the game.[LNB]An exasperated Smith said: "We've had meetings and forums and different things like that.[LNB]"Ever since I've been involved, football managers don't agree with referees' decisions - that's the bottom line.[LNB]"If they go for you, you do; if they go against you, you don't.[LNB]"I don't think the referees are any worse than they have been."[LNB]He added jokingly: "Managerial dissatisfaction with a referee has been fairly steady since I've been involved."[LNB]Last year saw SPL bosses agree to refrain from publicly criticising referees but that appears to have been forgotten of late.[LNB]"I liked the vow of silence," said Smith, who also shot down Gannon's complaint that not enough had been done to allow managers to air their grievances about officials.[LNB]"We have the opportunity to do that after every game.[LNB]"If you're dissatisfied with the referee or whatever, there's a process in hand there where you can voice that dissatisfaction.[LNB]"I don't think we can ask for any more in that respect."[LNB]The current climate appears to have been sparked by a recent spate of red cards but Smith believes the rules are to blame more than poor officiating.[LNB]"Most people are talking about red cards and players getting sent off," he said.[LNB]"The two yellows brings that situation more than anything else at the present moment.[LNB]"I think a lot more players are getting sent off for two yellow cards.[LNB]"The number of situations for which you can get a yellow card have increased.[LNB]"For example, pulling your jersey over your head."[LNB]He added: "That's not always the referee's fault.[LNB]"If it's dictated to him that he has to give a yellow card for that instance then that makes it a little bit more awkward as well."[LNB]Smith did acknowledge the recent retirement of some experienced officials may have had an effect.[LNB]"When you find a crop of experience referees coming to the end of their careers, it's natural some of the younger ones come in and there's going to be some ups and downs," he said.[LNB]Rangers return to domestic action this weekend following the end of their limp Champions League campaign.[LNB]Two points from six Group G matches was the worst return by a Scottish club in the competition but Smith was not happy to be put out of his misery.[LNB]"You're never really glad it's over," he said.[LNB]"You'd always like to fare better than we did in the Champions League.[LNB]"But it is finished now, which allows us to concentrate solely on the domestic scene."[LNB]This season's Scottish Premier League champions could be the last to gain automatic entry to the Champions League.[LNB]"If we do get the opportunity later on, we have to make sure we fare better," said Smith, who fears the same fate as Celtic after they were knocked out by Arsenal in the qualifying round.[LNB]"You're stuck playing big countries and top teams, so it's going to be an awkward situation."[LNB]He added: "The European part of it is a huge bonus for us in the financial sense.[LNB]"But our target is to try to retain the championship.[LNB]"We face a difficult half-dozen games here before the season really starts to settle down."[LNB]First up is Saturday's visit of promoted St Johnstone, who have adapted well to life in the SPL.[LNB]"I don't think there's any doubt they've started very well in their season," said Smith, whose side won 2-1 at McDiarmid Park in October.[LNB]"They played very well against us last time out; we were a little bit fortunate to come away with a win."[LNB][LNB] Rangers v St. Johnstone. Click here to bet.
