Oh no! Rennie returns

Last updated : 19 August 2003 By Martyn Elliott

Rennie’s offences against Newcastle are too numerous to bother going into and his dislike of Alan Shearer is well known, so for the authorities to appoint him for such an important match is a joke.

Referees have a difficult job to do and generally receive too much criticism, mostly from pundits who have the benefit of seeing controversial incidents from every conceivable angle before having to pass comment.

But when it comes to Rennie no criticism of his performances can ever be judged as being too strong - he is simply not good enough to be refereeing professional football matches, as numerous managers will testify.

Still it could have been worse Mike Riley, the man who awarded Manchester United seven penalties in five games last season, could have been in charge.