SUFFOLK are moving towards having a full time referees' county development officer.A sub committee has been formed and if approved the officer would have control of every aspect of refereeing in the county from attracting newcomers to training and retaining them.

By Elvin King

SUFFOLK are moving towards having a full time referees' county development officer.

A sub committee has been formed and if approved the officer would have control of every aspect of refereeing in the county from attracting newcomers to training and retaining them.

The appointment will be financed initially by Suffolk FA with no funding from the main Football Association.

“Other counties have appointed referee development officers and they have proved useful,” said Suffolk FA secretary Martin Head.

“The aim of the FA is to have a registered referee at every game.”

Suffolk's record with referees is as good as most, but they are still effectively standing still with just as many leaving as being trained.

And with a good percentage of referees in the over-50 age bracket something has to be done soon to stop the situation from worsening.

Brian Chapman is leaving his role as general referees' secretary at the end of the month, and a replacement is being sought with more information from Head on 01449 616606.