Rice won't contact referee chief again after 'man-to-man' talk

Brian Rice has revealed he had discussions with Crawford Allan this week – but won’t be calling the Scottish FA’s head of refereeing again.

Hamilton manager Rice had voiced his anger at refereeing decisions last weekend, saying after a 3-0 defeat to St Mirren that he felt Allan wasn’t taking Accies seriously and that his side wasn’t getting “a fair crack of the whip”.

The Accies boss said he had held frank discussions over his complaints and heard the thoughts of the Head of Referee Operations but feels there’s no point in making contact again.

“I spoke to Crawford,” Rice said. “I brought his name up last week and I thought it was only fair that I phoned him. He phoned me back which was very good of him.

“We had a man-to-man conversation. It went very well. We agreed on certain things and we disagreed with certain things, which is great.

“But rest assured, I will never be phoning Crawford Allan again, that’s me done. I am finished.

“I said exactly what I think, I got the replies I probably knew I would get and now I know I don’t need to phone Crawford Allan again. I can phone him but I will choose not to now.”

The experienced coach also said he had no regrets about giving his forthright views last weekend.

“What I said last week needed (to be) said from me,” he said. “You can’t be Mr Nice Guy all the time.

“The fire is burning in there and sometimes everyone else has got to see that.

“I was standing up for my club and letting everyone know the fire is burning. I stand by what I said 100%.

“Could I have put it across differently? Of course I could but it was how I felt, it was honesty but we have moved on and the most important thing is tomorrow.”