FULL-TIME OFFICIALS NEEDED SAYS MURTY

RANGERS boss Graeme Murty believes referees need to go full-time if the standard of their officiating is to improve.

The performances of Scottish whistlers has come into sharp focus once again following Neil Lennon’s bust-up with Kevin Clancy on Saturday.

The Hibs boss was sent to the stand after angrily remonstrating with t he official following a disputed penalty during the 2-2 draw at Rugby Park.

Unlike Premier League referees in England, who earn up to £70,000 a year on full professional contracts, Scottish officials currently work as self-employed contractors who are paid on a game-by-game basis.

But Murty says the only way to drive up their displays is to copy the lead taken by top-flight chiefs down south and invest in the men in black.

“Until we have a professional core of referees in Scotland, who are training every day with financial backing commensurate to the task, they will find it difficult to reach the standards of the Premier League in England,” said the Ibrox boss.

“That’s nothing to do with their own desires or their wants — it’s to do with the reality of being professional and getting paid to do a job.

“It’s exactly the same as professional footballers playing at the top level with all the facilities behind him as opposed to a part-time footballer having to do a day job then going to play on the weekend.”