TRYING to get a referee to give his views publicly is about as easy as getting Paul Scholes to give an interview.

They fear they will be demoted if they say anything controversial.

Some buck the trend, but only when they have already reached the top and so are pretty much untouchable.

Referees always make interesting listening, and can give a little balance to the crazed criticism dished out to them by managers.

This week, Graham Poll and former top ref David Elleray proposed two changes to the game which should be taken on board.

Elleray called for ex-professional players to be fast-tracked to the Premiership referees list, and Poll advocated cameras to be used to judge whether the ball crosses the goalline.

It would not be the first time that a system of fast-tracking has been attempted.

Ex-Wanderer Tony Philliskirk was put on a similar scheme five years or so ago, but the system let him down. Philliskirk was easily the best man to referee me in 10 years of pub football, and that was while he was learning the ropes.

But the demands on him were ridiculous and he reluctantly had to give it up. Ex-players make the best referees because of their experience and knowledge of the game and the refereeing top brass must make it happen.

Poll spoke equally good sense in promoting the use of cameras, after Watford were given a goal against Chelsea in the FA Cup -- and TV replays showed the ball did not cross the line.

Cameras could only help ensure that such an injustice did not happen again.