Lennon buoyed by SFA meeting

Celtic boss Neil Lennon has revealed he was encouraged by Monday's meeting with the Scottish Football Association's compliance officer, Vincent Lunny.

Last Updated: 11/12/12 at 17:52 Post Comment    Bet with SkyBet  Scottish Cup. Click here to bet.

Neil Lennon: Scottish Football Association meeting was productive

Neil Lennon: Scottish Football Association meeting was productive

Manager Specials

So who will replace David Moyes as manager of Everton after his appointment as Sir Alex Ferguson's successor at Manchester United? Wigan's Robert Martinez heads the betting. Check out the latest odds

A delegation of Scottish Premier League managers, including Steve Lomas, Kenny Shiels and Jim Jefferies, met with Lunny at Hampden following a recent plea by Lennon for better communication between bosses, referees and the SFA and clearer guidelines on acceptable behaviour.

Lennon has not been in trouble this season but fellow Irishmen Lomas and Shiels have found themselves in hot water recently.

St Johnstone manager Lomas, currently subject of an eight-match touchline ban, faces further sanctions after being called before an SFA disciplinary hearing later this month for kicking a water bottle during his team's 1-0 defeat against Hibernian on 28 November.

Kilmarnock manager Shiels has been served with two separate notices of complaint from the Scottish FA.

The Rugby Park boss has to explain critical remarks made about referee Euan Norris after his side's defeat to Inverness on 3 November, and he faces further scrutiny after protesting against the red card shown to his captain Manuel Pascali during a home defeat to St Johnstone last month.

Lunny will meet with all the SPL bosses in the new year but Lennon believes progress has already been made in a bid to eradicate some of the tension between managers and the authorities.

"It was very productive," he said, ahead of Wednesday night's William Hill Scottish Cup fourth-round replay against Arbroath at Gayfield Park.

"It wasn't a question of any heated arguments, it was just points being put across from both sides and John Fleming (SFA's head of referee development) came in for the last hour or so.

"Alex Smith, head of the managers' association, was there and we are hoping to draw up a few proposals to take to Vincent and see where that takes us.

"One rule was brought up, (what can be said in post-match press conferences) we feel that there is a vague sort of grey areas in the rules and sanctions on managers as well.

"I don't want to go into in-depth because there was a lot of things said that will remain private but it was very productive."

Top Scottish referee Craig Thomson believes there remains a healthy respect between officials and managers, but admits he would like to turn the tables on critical bosses and see them taking over the whistle.

Category One referee Thomson, along with Bobby Madden, was at Hampden on Tuesday to undertake their FIFA referee medicals at the Sports Medicine Centre and afterwards he spoke, with a degree of humour, about his idea which he believes would help mutual understanding.

"I would love managers and coaches to referee a match, just to see what it is like," Thomson told Press Association Sport.

"Yes, they do it at training but maybe just to referee a match to see how difficult some of the decisions are and I would love to go and watch them.

"And maybe for us to go more into their training grounds, even to help referee training games as well, that is an opportunity to build up relationships.

"The more and more contact with each other, outwith the matches, I think is a benefit.

"I would like to think we have a good relationship with the managers, we get a lot of respect from them which is what we are really looking for.

"They are not going to agree with every decision and it would be foolhardy to think that would be the case.

"But I will always say to the coaches that my door is always open.

"We all know how emotional the game is and so after the 15-minute window we are happy to speak to any coaches that come to the door."

Don't miss any live and exclusive football coverage this festive season. Click here to visit Sky Sports' Festive Calendar

Bet with SkyBet  Scottish Cup. Click here to bet.

TEAMtalk Facebook Fan Page

The TEAMtalk fan page is a great place to meet like minded people, have football related discussions and make new friends.

Related News

Sky Bet

    • Retrieving latest Sky Bet odds

Most Commented

Readers' Comments

I

m absolutely disgusted that I've been misquoted in saying that if a chance came up to join Arsenal I would be interested. What I meant to say is if Man United or Chelsea were interested......

gulliver
Agent cools Benteke exit talk

L

FC league positions and points from last 4 seasons - 7 (61), 8 (52), 6 (58), 7 (63). Werner calls it progress, I call it mid table stability.

kolev_lfc
Reds progress delights Werner

I

s there a PR agency covering Begovich, Odemwingie, Steven Fletcher and Grant Holt or something? Why would you offer a quote like that without having been announced by either club. #headsshoulderskneesandtoesgone

Havelange
Begovic hints at Liverpool move

Footer 365

Monaco confirm the signings of FC Porto duo Joao Moutinho and James Rodriguez

Monaco have confirmed the signings of FC Porto duo Joao Moutinho and James Rodriguez for a combined fee of €70million.

Phelan and Steele leave United

Manchester United are to part company with assistant manager Mike Phelan and goalkeeping coach Eric Steele.

Andros Townsend out of England U21 squad after FA betting charge

Tottenham winger Andros Townsend has been charged by the Football Association with an alleged breach of betting rules.

Mail Box

Wayne Rooney Is Just An Average Athlete

That's the difference between him and someone like Cristiano Ronaldo - his body just isn't right. We have mails on him, Sparky, Brendan Rodgers and the Europa Lge...

Saving The Europa League And More...

Nice one UEFA, but not far enough. We have some ideas to make the Europa League better as well as more views on Wayne Rooney, Vermaelen in midfield and...

© 2013 British Sky Broadcasting Ltd. All Rights Reserved