Paul Fairclough has called on all Premiership and Football League managers to unite in supporting The Football Association grass roots 'respect the referee' initiative at the top level of the game.

"We owe a massive responsibility to the youth of this country", said the Barnet manager. "Mind you, to make it work all 91 managers would have to agree and show their players the way".

Fairclough gives his views on the initiative on the Friday night football show on BBC London 94.9 and describes how his players responded to a poor start to the season from a disciplinary viewpoint by agreeing that only the captain could talk to the referee to query any decision.

Since August the Bees have collected only two cautions for dissent ... and the player's initiative has received worldwide publicity and approval from top FA figures such as Sir Trevor Brooking and Brian Barwick.

Discipline was on the agenda at the training ground this week with Fairclough unhappy at the number of red and yellow cards received by the squad for offences other than dissent.

Note: Neither club captain Lee Harrison nor striker Adam Birchall, who set up the Barnet initiative, has received a single caution this season.

Dennis Signy