MIXU PAATELAINEN today insisted the Hampden showdown between SPL bosses and referees will lead to an improvement in the relationship between clubs and the whistlers.
The Hibs manager, along with skipper Rob Jones, was at the national stadium for the summit called amid a series of spot-kick rows which have overshadowed the start of the new season.
Paatelainen himself is in the middle of a two-match ban after be
ing sent to the stand following a spat with referee Brian Colvin during a pre-season clash with Cowdenbeath at Central Park.
But today he claimed yesterday's clear the air meeting, at which every club was represented along with SFA referee supremo, development officer and ex- official Hugh Dallas and several top whistlers, can only be good for the game.
While unwilling to go into exactly what was discussed, Paatelainen said: "There was a lot of very frank talking and I think it cleared up some issues.
"It was straight talking, asking questions, asking about consequences. It was good and I think it will help create a better understanding between managers, players and referees.
"We are all in it together, we all want to make the game fair, to have it free-flowing and I think it is important all parties talk to each other and realise what the difficulties are for each side, that we understand each other."
Paatelainen believes the relationship between referees and players hasn't changed since his days starring for Dundee United, Aberdeen and Hibs among others, but feels the intrusion of television cameras has made life more difficult for the man in the middle.
He said: "I think the game has become quicker which makes the job even more difficult but the big difference is that, with the number of cameras at games, everything is seen from a number of different angles allowing people to speculate on what mistakes, if any, have been made.
"It obviously does not make it any easier for the referees but players, too, can get punished if they are caught on camera doing something the referee has missed."
Paatelainen admitted his own experience of sitting in the stand, he was in the directors' box as Hibs defeated Falkirk at the weekend and won't be allowed in the away dugout as his side faces Inverness on Saturday, had lent him a different perspective on the game.
And he revealed he's now considering perhaps spending at least part of each match viewing from that vantage point rather than pitch level.
He said: "I would consider sitting in the stand perhaps for the first half to see how things develop and then go downstairs if need be. I'd never done it before and with the fact the boys won I may be should do it a bit more often."
Meanwhile, Paatelainen believes goalkeeper Andy McNeil will be fit to board the team coach bound for the Highlands tomorrow after he picked up a thigh knock against the Bairns.
He said: "Andy is making progress. He'll have another light training session tomorrow and he feels he should be okay. He's a very tough character, determined and he won't be fazed by any little niggle."
The full article contains 538 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
