LMA backing respect drive

Bevan seeks better understanding between managers and officials

Last updated: 12th November 2008

LMA backing respect drive

Bevan: Strong stance

Also see

League Managers' Association chief executive Richard Bevan is determined to make sure the 'Respect' campaign is successful.

The initiative was introduced at the start of the season in an attempt to improve the behaviour of players and coaches.

Football Association director of governance Jonathan Hall admitted earlier this week that he had been disappointed with the response and the LMA are now actively looking to help.

Bevan has met with referees' chief Keith Hackett in an attempt to build a better understanding between managers and officials, and a group will now be set up to examine what might need to be done.

"I am sure there a lot of extreme views because it is an emotional subject," Bevan told Sky Sports News.

"But the reality is we have had some really good meetings with the head of governance at the FA and with Keith Hackett and his management team and we are very much on board with where we want to get to.

"We are going to be setting up a working party and that will be made of some experts within the game.

"We will be looking at each of the 12 items, producing a blueprint and then presenting that to the board of the PGMO (Professional Game Match Officials).

"Hopefully it will be well thought out and then we will get down to some nitty gritty on how we can help the referees, which is ultimately what we are trying to do."

No going back

Reports have suggested that managers may not be happy with the new proposals and could even go on strike, but Bevan is ready to deal with any resistance.

He said: "We may get building blocks put up against us because of politics but what we are determined to do is professionally go around the brick wall or over the brick wall, and occasionally we may have to go through the brick wall.

"What we will not be doing is going backwards.

"It is all about good communication, transparency, understanding the issues, and when it comes to the technical matters, making sure that we have the experts in the game debating it and coming up with solutions."

Bevan insists that he has not come across anybody who wants to abandon the scheme, and is confident that any problems will be ironed out in time.

"All the conversations I have had have been very positive because we are looking at the bigger picture," Bevan explained.

"It is very difficult in sport to look long term but if we can achieve this then respect will actually become self-regulating.

"We will get more decisions right, we will have better communication and understanding and managers, when they do have issues, will have a vehicle to know that they will be professionally debated."