RateTheRef

I'm going to take this opportunity to point out to some of you newbies - we are not a gossip column. We are not interested in rumours, what you've heard or speculation - never have been. Most of it is way off base anyway! Opinion is fine, facts are even better, rumour, gossip and speculation is just something to be ignored, the whole reason it is rumour, gossip and speculation is because it has little to no bearing on fact...  As justalino says "the only person who can see your merit table position is you and the powers that be and you are unable to see anyone else's". Anyone outside of the powers that be or the referee themselves who is genuinely in the know doesn't spout off on a forum saying "I've heard..."  which is partly why they are genuinely in the know - they can be trusted with matters of 'in confidence'.

Add in that the position on the merit table is not the only factor that will be considered, although it will be one of the most important factors, developmental progress will be considered, the referee as a whole in terms of can they handle the next step up will be considered, their attitude, their desire and willingness to work hard, keep learning, keep progressing will be considered, someone might be excellent at x level but would not handle the next step up or have the ability at the next level, the level they are at might be the peak of their ability so they may well finish top of the merit table year in year out and never get called for interview to the next level.

Speaking as someone who appoints officials and collates merit tables, it has always been based on merit.

I cant and wont begin to comment on something I dont know in regards the national league promotions.

What I will say is refs are now given their position rather than bandings, so for example a ref is 6 of 60.
However they have their own whats app groups or some other medium where they discuss each others position so it wouldnt be difficult to figure out if most posted on the group.
This would be more likely to be the case I would suggest  in geographical areas where they all know each other.

Speaking as someone who appoints officials and collates merit tables, it has always been based on merit.

I cant and wont begin to comment on something I dont know in regards the national league promotions.

What I will say is refs are now given their position rather than bandings, so for example a ref is 6 of 60.
However they have their own whats app groups or some other medium where they discuss each others position so it wouldnt be difficult to figure out if most posted on the group.
This would be more likely to be the case I would suggest  in geographical areas where they all know each other.

Assuming everyone tells the truth

Quote from: WaitAndSee on Wed 09 Jun 2021 07:37

Quote from: Hughesy66 on Tue 08 Jun 2021 23:24

I also heard that although 6 are being interviewed, the referee who finished 6th is not one of them.

If this is the case then I am absolutely for equality but this cannot be right and would be purely positive discrimination. It would be very interesting to hear how this would be justified to the referee who finished in 6th position as to how or why somebody below them was interviewed rather than them. That could make for a very uncomfortable explanation.
It would seem that given the press coverage much earlier in the season that colours were pinned to a certain mast. I for one sincerely hope this is not the case as that would do more damage to the question of equality than anything else.

Out of interest at this level is it the FA who would nominate for interview or PGMOL? I’m not sure how far down the influence of PGMOL goes

Yes I totally agree, it is my understanding that Rebecca finished around the halfway point on the merit list, but is still being considered on the basis that she had a development game.

I would certainly be very disappointed if I was one of the referees who finished above her and didn't receive the same opportunity and I imagine it will cause a lot of resentment amongst refereeing colleagues should she be successful.

It would be fantastic to see a female referee on the Football League, but it absolutely must be on the basis of merit, otherwise what is the point in having a merit list.

I always take these rumours with a little bit of a pinch of salt, bearing in mind the only person who can see your merit table position is you and the powers that be and you are unable to see anyone else's.  If I had a pound for everytime an official has told me they finished one place outside the promotion places last season.....

Every year there are rumours that female/gay/BAME referees have been promoted on their belonging to a particular demographic rather than merit table position.  None of us will ever know if that's true of course, and if it is then that is totally counter productive to the equal society we all want.  Tokenism is equally damaging in my opinion.

The moral of the story for me is to not concern oneself with the politics.  Control the controllables.

People not concerning themselves with politics enables politicians to get away with murder. (You may decide for yourself whether I'm using that phrase figuratively or not.)

It’s all gone quiet in this front recently - any ideas when we can expect an announcement?

Some time in the future..

The final National League to Football League Referee interview took place today, so I would expect that we should hear something next week 👍🏼