Connor livid at referee's remark

Credit:

Although clearly unhappy with his side only taking a point from the game with the division's bottom side Bray Wanderers, Galway United manager Sean Connor was even more unhappy, furious even, with the reported remarks made by Cork referee Anthony Buttimer towards his striker Anto Flood prior to the contest.

Flood, part of a playing squad who had deferred payment of a week's wages in an attempt to help out the embattled club, confirmed after the game that the experienced referee had commented to him: "I'll race ya for your wages."

This remark infuriated both the player involved and his team mates, but it was his manager who most vehemently expressed his displeasure with the incident, which Connor hopes will lead to an FAI investigation on the matter.

"The comments the referee made before the game, in my opinion, he should never take the football field again. These players here have worked hard, deferred their wages, and he's come and made a joke of it in the tunnel before the game.

"I'll be taking it up with Nick Leeson and I'll make sure he goes straight to the top with this, to John Delaney. The referee's a joke.

"When I seen him walking in, I rolled my eyes, cos I knew what we were going to get. He's made smart comments before; he's the ref who told one of my players at Dundalk last year to f*** off. He's full of smart comments and full of his own self importance."

Mr. Buttimer declined to comment on the matter when questioned on Monday night.