Poll Shows Promise

It isn’t easy to find top class referees these days, even in the Premiership, but Graham Poll could be one if he tried – or more accurately, if he changed his approach a little. The problem with Graham is that he often gives the impression that he believes the fans have come to see him and that the 22 players are nothing more than a kind of supporting cast.

This is, to put it bluntly, delusive behaviour and unlikely to endear him to players, coaches, managers or fans. So he would be well advised to cut out the expansive gestures, the theatrical smiles, the agonisingly long time he sometimes takes over an important decision, the subtle positioning to ensure that the camera catches his best side – in short, the ego thing.

And when he’s done that, he could try re-assessing his role as a referee. He might start by recalling that old cliché about the really good ref being the one you don’t notice – until you glance at the programme on the way out.

After all, the football club programme which gives the referee star billing hasn’t been published yet. Fortunately.