BAT Sports plan to clean up their disciplinary act by getting inside the minds of the men in black - and giving referees the chance to get inside theirs.

In a bid to bridge the widening gulf between players and officials, the Wessex club are inviting referees to join them for pre-season training in a bid to discover what makes the other half tick.

At last month's Wessex League annual meeting, chairman Alf Peckham issued a stark warning that continued abuse of match officials, particularly at reserve level, could sound the death knell for the combination league.

BAT have been handed a massive £300 fine for totting up too many disciplinary points last season - a £500 suspended fine hangs over them if they exceed their points next season - and their newly-appointed director of football, Alex Chalmers, is intent on steering them back on the straight and narrow.

He said: "We want to take the initiative on this issue. Our disciplinary record was poor last season, but we're asking referees to come along and meet the lads and show them we're not the ogres we're made out to be.

"Refs can come and get fit with us and we can get our lads to ask them some questions and the refs to ask some back. I want the refs to see that our younger lads want to do well, but they need to be nurtured on the pitch as well as off it."

Former Brockenhurst chairman Chalmers has seen the problems from both sides of the fence. After a long playing career, which included spells with The Army, Highcliffe Vets and the Pirelli Sunday side, he refereed youth football.

He confessed: "I got sent off a couple of times in my playing days and had a fair few yellow cards.

"I know how easy it is for players to feel frustrated and it can be difficult for them to comprehend how a referee runs the game.

"Referees can help by having a bit of banter with the lads and pointing out where they're going wrong."

BAT boss Andy Leader admitted: "Our disciplinary record shocked me and it's something we're going to look closely at. Certain players are bigger culprits than others and a lot's come from the reserves, but we're not going to put up with it.

"I've always tried to instill discipline but, like they say, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink.

"We need to put the point across more strongly in pre-season and if we can get a few referees to come down, we can learn to understand each more."

Any refs who would like to accept the invitation should ring Chalmers on 07802 160080.

Romsey Town's cancellation leaves BAT looking for another pre-season friendly on July 19.