HAMPSHIRE FA referees chief Keith Stroud has welcomed the relaunch of the Daily Echo's Respect the Ref campaign.

We have launched it for the second year running in the light of recent high profile events which have tainted the game.

Graham Poll was involved in controversy after sending off John Terry and James McFadden inside four days earlier this month.

In addition, female linesman Amy Rayner was criticised by Luton boss Mike Newell and the fourth official was knocked out by a coin thrown during the Newport v Swansea FA Cup clash.

Stroud said: "I welcome the return of the Respect the Ref campaign.

"I'm definitely made a difference in the Southampton area last season.

"I'm sure the message started to get through."

Stroud added: "Some of the things we have seen recently have no place in the game.

"I was fourth official at the Weymouth FA Cup tie last Sunday and I was saying to Mark Bright (BBC) that we should have been talking about Basingstoke's win at Chesterfield, not someone being hit by a coin.

"Basingstoke should be on the back page, not the other incident.

"We need to keep on giving refereeing a good, positive spin.

"We have about 1,500 refs in the county, the most we've had for four or five years.

"That's good news for local football.

"Now we have to keep on working with our refs and try to give them all the management skills they need."