18-game ban leaves Jags No.2 ‘sickened’
East Kilbride Thistle assistant boss Billy Dolan has racked up a whopping 18-game ban from the Scottish Junior Football Association after making foul-mouthed comments to referees.
Alan Paterson’s No. 2 has been serving a six-game ban for a run-in with officials during a Sectional League Cup quarter-final with Lesmahagow on August 20.
However, before that ban was enforced he was sent off twice at Ardrossan on August 25 after referee Chris McTiernan refused to award EK a ‘stonewall’ penalty in the last minute of their 4-3 defeat.
Dolan admits shouting profanities at the official in the West Region League One clash but strenuously denies claims he branded McTiernan a ‘cheat’.
Last week he was hit with a six-game ban and a £100 fine for each of his red cards, adding 12 games on to his sixmatch punishment against Lesmahagow.
Dolan appealed the decision but it was kicked out by the West Region League. He decided against a further appeal to the SJFA.
Dolan said: “You’d think I’d murdered someone. I’m sickened by the decision because no-one on that board was willing to listen to my side.
“I did swear at the ref, I hold my hands up to that and I’m not making any excuses for it, but in 35 years in football I’ve never called anyone a cheat.
“Football is a passionate game, but it’s getting to the stage where you can’t question officials at all and it’s ruining the game.
“I asked for an explanation why we didn’t get a stonewall penalty and he refused to speak to me. It’s a joke.”
Jags boss Alan Paterson said: “The decision is extreme.
“I’ve seen players headbutt folk and get much less. It pretty much takes Billy out for the rest of the season.”
West Region secretary Scott Robertson confirmed Dolan’s ban, but did not wish to provide further comment.