EXETER City manager Gary Caldwell believes referees in League One are not up to standard after being on the wrong end of several contentious decisions in the New Year’s Day defeat at Wycombe Wanderers.

Caldwell watched from a vantage point in the stands as his team turned in an excellent, controlled first half performance in which they deserved more than they got at Adams Park.

The Grecians even thought they had gone in front when Ilmari Niskanen headed in at the back post from a corner kick, but many were left puzzled as to why the goal was disallowed by referee Scott Simpson.

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Caldwell also watched on in disbelief as Vincent Harper was yellow carded despite winning a tackle, captain Josh Magennis was booked for talking to Simpson – as is his right as captain of the team – and Wycombe players escape punishment for equally robust challenges and twice shoving Exeter players into the advertising hoardings.

Simpson’s inept performance continued after the break as well and culminated in him awarding the Chairboys a stoppage time penalty after Ed Francis was adjudged to have handballed inside the penalty box. He did, but the question of intent and the fact the ball ricocheted off an opponent barely a yard away from Francis, was not considered by the match official.

By that time, Caldwell had left his seat in the stand opting to watch the second half on the touchline. But his furious reaction to that controversial spot kick landed him in hot water as Simpson marched to the technical area and showed the Scot a red card for an apparent outburst, which meant Caldwell was unable to conduct his usual post-match press duties with assistant Kevin Nicholson taking over instead.

However, Caldwell was free to speak at today's press conference ahead of the weekend clash with Bolton Wanderers at St James Park and was asked for his thoughts on events at Adams Park.

“The ban after you get sent off is another ridiculous rule by the EFL, where I think supporters want to hear people’s opinions and want to hear reasons for what they see on the pitch. But I can’t speak,” he said.

“We don’t know what the referee thinks and I think it is poor. I don’t know why I was sent off because the ref didn’t tell me at the time, he hasn’t told me after and yet too many times, for me, we are getting hurt by referees who – in my opinion – aren’t capable of reffing at this level. It is costing us and it cost us again yesterday.”

Let’s be honest, this isn’t just sour grapes. Caldwell is right and fans of all football clubs have been saying it for years - the standard of refereeing is shocking.

One look at Simpson’s LinkedIn profile tells you he is a “successful and hard working sales manager” by trade. That is his profession – not a full-time football referee. Is it right that, in a sport flushed with cash, a big business, important games and people’s livelihoods and professions are being decided by amateurs simply not god enough to do the job? It’s not like the FA can’t afford it.

I have recently experienced being a referee for my son’s football team when the appointed match official didn’t turn up through illness. No one stepped forward because no one wanted to be a referee and fearing the game would be postponed, I volunteered, but it wasn’t a fun job. Even for an Under-13s County Cup tie, people will tell you of mistakes they think you made, whilst parents/coaches of the other team will offer an alternative view.

When I look at other sports – football and cricket, for example – I question why these controversies in football never seem apparent there. Why no controversies over the use of technology? Why is there far more respect shown to officials than in football? I appreciate the FA are doing all they can to eradicate this and help referees. But to really help the game, they need to stop appointing people from outside of the sport to officiate and turn to former players willing to step into the role that know and understand the game. Like cricket, like rugby - and almost every other sport that requires adjudication.

Onto the game itself and Caldwell had nothing but praise for his players against a Wycombe team that is performing outstandingly well in League One. City fell behind to a wildly deflected free kick, but seemed to have earned a deserved point when Tristan Crama headed in Francis’ corner four minutes from time. A draw would have been a fair result, but Simpson had other ideas.

“I thought the players were brilliant,” Caldwell said. “I thought the understanding of how we tried to win the game against a really dangerous team who score so many goals from open play was outstanding.

“We controlled the game first half with possession, albeit we would again like to connect that possession higher and be more of a threat in the game, but that is something we are working on and I think we are getting better at and need to continue to do that.

“Second half, we lost a bit of control and they get their corners and set pieces where they are dangerous. They scored from a deflected free kick, but that didn’t stop us. We kept playing, we kept probing and scored another brilliant goal from a set piece, where we have been outstanding this season, and then we got a little bit edgy in the last five minutes and didn’t play the way we would like to see the game out and we concede a very dubious penalty late in the game which is disappointing and hurts.

“We have to take a lot from the performance and use the frustration and build on the performance this Saturday, but add a result to it.”

Saturday’s match referee for the Bolton match is Benjamin Speedie, a former primary school teacher and now referee development officer at the Liverpool County FA.