United’s boss not keen on a plan to give more power to fourth official

FOOTBALL’S law makers should have more confidence in referees and reject proposals to give extra powers to Fourth Officials, says Torquay United manager Paul Buckle.

The plans to allow the Fourth Official more power, to adjudicate on offences like handball, were revealed to Football League managers at their pre-season meeting this week.

But Buckle, who attended the get-together at Walsall, said: “You’ve already got the referee and two linesmen out there handling the game.

“If they can’t spot things, I don’t think adding another official to the job will help.

“All it will do is see Fourth Officials getting more stick on the touchlines than they do now sometimes.

“You either go with the referee or you go with new technology.

“And I think that goalline technology is the only one you can really go for, because that’s so important to results.

“I don’t agree with technology deciding things like whether it’s a corner or not.

“Referees or linesmen may get those decisions wrong from time to time, but you have to handle that.

“Those sort of things usually even themselves out in the end.

“And it is a game, with human beings, after all.”

By coincidence, sitting in the seat next to Buckle at the meeting was Ian Sampson.

Sampson is manager of Northampton Town, United’s opponents on next Saturday’s opening day of the League Two season at Plainmoor.

“Sammo and I had a good chat, but we didn’t give too much away,” quipped Buckle.

Today the Gulls were taking on League One Yeovil Town at home (3pm) in their final pre-season friendly.

Buckle was hoping to have a fully fit squad to choose from, after winger Danny Stevens (ankle) was not risked in the midweek 3-0 win at Weston-super-Mare.

The Glovers were expected to include young Manchester United midfielder Cameron Stewart, who is poised to complete a loan move to Huish Park.

Former Torquay striker Ben Joyce, 20, has signed for Zamaretto (Southern) League Premier club Salisbury City after a successful trial at the Wiltshire club.

After joining United last summer, former Swindon Town starlet Joyce spent most of the season on loan at Weston-super-Mare.

TORQUAY United are expected to make a bit of club history when they unveil their new away strip on Monday.

The kit, which also goes on sale after the annual Photocall and Open Day (11.45am), is believed to feature a black background, with the Gulls’ traditional yellow-and-blue colours also prominent.

It will be the first time that a Torquay strip has sported the colour black for more than 50 years.

The club played in black shorts and white shirts, and was known as the Magpies, until the 1954-55 season.

Then United changed to gold-and-blue, reportedly to advertise the Bay’s golden sands and blue skies.