OUR contributors from the touchline on t'other page have recently bemoaned the lack of common sense shown by referees. I agree with them. I would say to them however, it will only get worse.

You see it's all your fault -- the great British footballing public. For years now you have created a deafening clamour for greater consistency from the men in black. The powers that be have subsided in the wake of this onslaught and sought to robotise the profession wherever possible. Their plan is to create a situation where every incident provokes an identical reaction irrespective of who is wearing the uniform.

Woe betide therefore any official who errs from the party line. The sound of wrists being publicly slapped reverberates around the footballing world.

So come Saturday when you're eight nil down in the last minute and your keeper brings down the last attacker, I'll send him off. Of course it's not sensible. The sensible action is to award a penalty, leave him on, and go back to the pub for a pint.

Earlier this season I spoke to a director of football who did not want consistency. He preferred his referee to adapt to the prevailing circumstances and the temperature of the game. He would presumably have supported Dermot Gallagher in his recent assessment that two yellow cards for a relatively minor scuffle would allow a pulsating clash to continue unhindered. Few games benefit from a reduction in numbers of its participants.

It's up to you. If you want consistency don't tell me to "use my discretion" next Saturday. I don't have any. If you really want common sense will you be able to refrain from "you booked one of ours for the same tackle" or "there's two teams on ere ref?" Be certain you simply cannot have both.