Jim Goodwin has taken a swipe at the SFA complaining St Mirren have suffered rookie refs this season. Jim hints to the football association to hand Celtic among others the rookie whistlers instead.

The St Mirren boss thinks the club are getting a rough deal when it comes to officials and it pains a picture of the SFA prioritising the ‘ teams at the top’.

“I understand that the SFA have to promote referees as there’s a bit of a shortage.” Goodwin told SunSport.

“But that’s the last three games now where we’ve had two inexperienced referees.

“The step-up from the Championship or League One is massive, as it is for a player or manager.

“I would like to think the SFA don’t see our games as any less important than those of the teams at the top.

“I would like to see it balance itself out and everyone gets an experienced referee one week and then one less experienced the following week.”

I’m guessing Jim doesn’t watch many Celtic games but the more experienced refs are no picnic either. We see it week after week bizarre decisions blighting our game.

The set up at the SFA sees a select few get fast tracked and become the top officials leaving the rest behind. The standard at the top can be deplorable and what’s worse is there’s no accountability in most cases. Willie Collum not refereeing Gers games seems to be an exception.

Referees need to be able to learn and be given responsibility. It might help the others up their game if they were to lose their top spot to someone who is doing most things correctly