PROFESSIONAL referees are needed in the lower reaches of the Football League, according to Bury boss David Flitcroft.

The Shakers have been on the wrong end of crucial decisions in recent weeks, most notably during the fourth-round FA Cup exit to Hull City two weeks ago.

Flitcroft is not happy with the current standard of refereeing and is calling for an improvement, be it full-time officials or technology.

“We almost accept that the refereeing standards can be poor and get used to it and say ‘lets all accept it’. Well we shouldn’t,” he said. “We shouldn’t accept that. We have got professional people at the football club. League Two and League One clubs really fight hard to make ends meet.

“Nothing will change until somebody decides to find out where all the money is going and channel it into professional refereeing because it has made a difference at the top level.

“The referees need help. The game is getting quicker. It’s mad because as you get better at refereeing your legs start creaking and start going.

“The best referees are going to need that assistance so whatever that takes let’s get that in, because as you see it’s an important part of the game.

“I still believe that they need more help and more assistance from technology.

“When you see managers getting sacked and teams getting relegated it has got to come down to goal-line technology.”

Flitcroft has also criticised the media coverage of refereeing mistakes, saying analysing and debating the errors provides lots of talking points, which increases viewing figures.

He said: “I don’t think the media push it at times, I think they hold back on it.

“There is that much debate in the boozer afterwards. But while there’s debate and while there’s opinion, when it’s black and white just nail it.

“I think it would add to the game. I think with modern sport and modern technology you can let the fans know so they don’t get frustrated with situations.

“(They need to) keep working on a strategy to bring (technology) to League Two and League One, we do get forgotten about down here.”