I feel that both Eamon McManus and Chris Chester have let themselves down badly in the last few days.

Prior to this, both came over as affable and fair-minded characters, who, if they ever felt royally peeved, would exercise restraint and discretion and thus maintain their dignity.

Things are slightly different now.

Fans can slam referees, and regularly do regardless of the referee's performance ... but that's because no one really cares what the individual fan thinks, and therefore no one bothers to point out to him that lots of other factors also played into his team's defeat (such as bad play, poor coaching, maybe even poor chairmanship).

Officials - like coaches and chairmen - need to be a lot more careful. When they do it, it never looks like anything other than sour grapes. It also makes them look stupid (either willfully or otherwise) for failing to recognise those other failures, which might well be their own.

I used to have a bit of time for EM and CT. Now they're on a par with the Daryl Powells and Paul Andersons of this world.

A good summing up imo Phuzzy.

Thank you JJ. Your £5 is in the post.

I respect you as a poster, on this one though myself and most of the RL world hold a contrary opinion.

If this went to court I’ve no doubt EM would win for the reasons you are arguing however in my mind, and the minds of most we know what he meant and implied.

I’m sorry, his program notes were nothing more than a childish dummy spit (well worded & likely with the help of a lawyer) because a couple of decisions went against his team.

Did EM air his concerns about the appointment of Hicks for the final before the game?

What McManus doesn't seem to know is that after Hicks reported the tweet to the police, the police interviewed him and became aware he had some learning difficulties..so it was the police who went back to Hicks and explained the situation and they were sure he was of no threat...but they will prosecute him if Hicks wanted so....Hicks on learning of his learning issues told the police he didn't want to prosecute but did want to meet the lad to put to him what he thought.
The police were satisfied with this and Karl F was asked to set up the meeting by Hicks.
That is how the events panned out...
The outcome was the lad had his lifetime ban suspended for 12 months...however the lad was so beside himself and in grief with guilt, he hasn't been to another game, even though he can.

McManus is completely wrong and out of order.
If he'd have just took 5 mind to ask KF this...he'd have been much wiser with his'sewer'post.