Frustrated Holbeach United boss Seb Hayes has vowed to do everything in his power to get an apology after being cleared of head-butting a match official.
Hayes is currently serving a five-match stadium ban after admitting swearing at an assistant referee following the Tigers’ 4-0 drubbing at Wisbech Town on Boxing Day.
But the Tigers boss was also accused of head-butting the same official by the man himself – a claim the Lincs FA have this week thrown out.
However, that’s not enough for Hayes. He wants an apology from the official he claims has “defamed his character” and “told lies to the highest degree”.
The Tigers chief says that the allegations could have cost him his livelihood and is also threatening to launch legal action if the official doesn’t give him a public apology.
“It’s such a relief to me that I’ve been cleared,” said Hayes. “But my name has been dragged through the mud because of this.
“This has affected my livelihood and profession. I admitted that I’d done wrong by swearing and accepted my punishment.
“But what I won’t accept is an official telling lies to the highest degree. You won’t believe the amount of witnesses I have and that’s why I’ve been cleared.
“He had no witnesses, but chose to make something up. It’s not acceptable and I’m going to take legal action unless I get a public apology. The official also needs to be dealt with by the FA.
“The guy had no evidence and it’s just not right that I can be unjustly accused in this way. I’m not guilty and this has gone way too far for me just to leave it.
“I feel so strongly that I think I’m going to speak to all of the other UCL managers about setting up some kind of managerial association.
“There needs to be some kind of help for us when this sort of thing happens.”
Hayes this week received word from the FA that a commission found “no findings on the alleged head-butt” and that the charge had been dropped.
But he still misses Saturday’s Carter’s Park clash with ChromaSport UCL Premier Division title rivals Leicester Nirvana (3pm), which will be the fourth match of his stadium ban.
Table-toppers at one point earlier in the season, ninth-placed Nirvana have been the side worst hit by winter postponements.
They are now ninth, 14 points behind third-placed Holbeach with four games in hand. Hayes is still unwilling to talk about Holbeach’s title hopes, but knows nothing but a win on Saturday will be good enough for his side.
One thing that the Tigers need to improve on is their goal-getting, with them bagging just 11 in their last six matches. In the same time, rivals Wisbech Town have plundered 25, while leaders Yaxley have helped themselves to 23.
“Our defence is the joint best in the league,” added Hayes. “But our attack is letting us down and putting pressure on the defenders.
“We miss so many chances it’s unreal.
“Hopefully that improves against Nirvana. I feel for them, they’ve been so badly affected by the weather.
“They can’t be in the best shape as they’ve not played all that many games lately – hopefully we can take advantage of that.
“Our problem this season hasn’t been beating the top sides. It’s been the mid-table sides we’ve struggled with.
“I’ve still got nothing to say about our title chances – but it’s safe to say that we’ll be looking a lot better if we can win on Saturday.”
The Tigers should be boosted by the return of Mitch Griffiths, who was dropped from the squad for the trip to ON Chenecks last Saturday for disciplinary reasons.
