FA charge for referee Darren Drysdale is ridiculous... players would much rather that passionate style than arrogant officials who demean them

It's ridiculous. The ref stood his ground, showed frustration at a player trying to bend the rules and basically told Judge, through his actions, that his nonsense would not be tolerated. It was slightly aggressive, but nothing Pierluigi Collina didn't do on occasions and he was viewed as the greatest ref in the world.

Judge's response after the match was correct and commendable - he wasn't bothered by it in the slightest and certainly didn't want or expect an apology. It happened in the heat of the moment during a game Ipswich badly needed to win and the situation should have been over once they walked off the pitch.

But of course in football nowadays, common sense is not allowed.

Players constantly try to run and influence games and it drives referees mad.

Judge was using his experience to push the boundaries to try and give his team the edge. It happens all the time in most games, but ref Drysdale was obviously fed up with it all as the game drew to a close and was having none of it.

I remember when I was at West Brom, refs would come up to me and say: "Thank goodness your big pal Olsson isn't playing today."

My centre-back partner Jonas was the nicest guy off the pitch but as soon as he stepped over the white line he was constantly in the referee's face, arguing with them and generally trying to tell them how to officiate the game.

He could be a real pest to referees and I often had to intervene to make sure he didn't go too far.

Refs hated taking charge of games he was playing in, but it was just Jonas' way of trying to get an advantage.

I can honestly say I would much prefer to have a passionate referee push his face towards me than the arrogant and pathetic officials who wave their hands about if a player dares to speak to them. It's so disrespectful. A player wants to make a point but the referee feels the player is so inferior that he is not allowed to utter a word to him and the only way he can respond is by using hand gestures to demean the certain player.

As a player, it riles you up and for a brief second you'd happily snap a few of those fingers back.

Communication is therefore the biggest problem in football between officials and players.

It badly needs to improve.

When you watch the rugby refs, they explain their decisions in great detail throughout the game and the players seem to have a genuine respect for them.

Now I'm not saying football can be officiated in a similar manner to rugby, as I feel football is a lot more spread out, but the lines of communication between player and ref should be open.

When I was captain I would have been brought into the referee's room with the opposition skipper beforehand and told by the ref we would be his point of contact on the pitch, but it was and is all one-way traffic.

Players can be articulate and they should be allowed to express their feelings in a respectful way.

Instead, we get refs who basically state, 'Talk to the hand because the face ain't listening'.

Then they wonder why there is such a discord between players and officials.

I understand it is an incredibly difficult job, but they need to realise the players would happily work with them if a little bit more respect was shown. It honestly works both ways.

I really hope Drysdale hasn't been put off officiating and when he returns after his short suspension the players on the pitch will give him the respect he deserves.

Certainly the next time he takes charge of a game with Judge involved, I think you'll find the Republic of Ireland international will cool his actions around him and the players will certainly feel this is not a referee to be messed with.

Feeno shines in battle of Bulg

My old mate Warren Feeney deserves immense credit for taking himself out of his comfort zone as he strives to become a successful coach in Bulgaria.

I'm sure some people baulked at the idea of Feeno travelling out to eastern Europe to take over a mid-table team in Bulgaria's second division 15 months ago.

He wasn't able to speak the language, it was a completely different culture, he didn't know the League or players and he had to leave his family behind in Belfast. Yet in typical Feeno fashion, he got to work and grafted.

He has basically rebuilt the squad and instilled a winning mentality at the club, where second best is not good enough.

He has plenty of great contacts throughout the UK and Ireland, but they weren't particularly good to him in Bulgaria when he needed local talent, due to the fact you are only allowed a specific number of foreigners in the team.

Feeno took himself out to watch a load of games, forged relationships with scouts and people of influence in football out there, recruited well and adapted his coaching style to suit the continental way.

He's had to be creative with his management and even though he has been well supported financially by the club, Feeno is the one who has to sell the ambition of himself and the club to prospective new players, all through an interpreter.

Feeno has brought in experienced Bulgarian players who had been with clubs outside the country and they have helped him improve the work ethic and desire.

Pirin Blagoevgrad are joint top of the second division and perfectly placed for an assault on promotion to the top flight as the season progresses.

Before returning to League action after the winter break, Feeno's Pirin drew 0-0 with renowned Bulgarian outfit CSKA Sofia in a friendly.

The club match Feeno's ambition and if they manage to secure promotion they want to immediately target a European place.

This is a project which excites Feeno and he has bought into it by revamping the squad and making them serious promotion challengers.

Not too many people would have taken the risk and gone to Bulgaria, but it seems Feeno's hard work and perseverance have served him well and if the Bulgarian experience is able to sort him out with a club in the UK on his return, then it will have been a worthwhile venture.

Jon has the correct vision for PFA top role

I've felt for some time now that the wealthy Professional Footballers' Association ignore members who have retired.

When you become a member of the PFA you are told you will be a member for life and you'll always be looked after by the Association.

However, I can tell you people like myself and Gerry Armstrong haven't heard a word from the PFA since we hung up our boots and we are talking about different generations. It seems that if you want help you have to make your case to them, they will not be pro-active.

I feel it is imperative that the PFA go out of their way to look after players who are maybe struggling, both mentally and physically.

Therefore, I am very interested in the battle to see who will replace Gordon Taylor as the new Chief Executive of the PFA.

An ex-team-mate, Jon Walters, and Ben Purkiss are vying for the position.

I don't know Purkiss at all, but I've known Jon (right), who has played in all the Leagues in England, since we were at Ipswich together and he has always taken a keen interest in the PFA, wanted to be the rep at clubs and been on management committees.

But does he have hands-on experience of running a big company with a high budget? The answer is no.

However, what he lacks in that sphere he makes up for with his vision.

He did an enlightening interview with The Times recently about how he would focus on helping players make the transition from playing to retirement. He wants the PFA to reach out and be pro-active rather than waiting for players to make the call - a lot won't do so, because they are too proud.

Jon, who of course played international football for the Republic of Ireland, spoke at length about the pitfalls and how difficult it can be for players making that transition - he brought up divorce rates and bankruptcy with recently retired players.

I was really impressed by how Jon came across. He knows where the major problems are at the PFA and genuinely cares about all members and wants the PFA to serve every single one.

It was refreshing and, at this moment in time, he would certainly get my vote.