Dorking Wanderers boss happy with ‘burger-money’ fine for Oldham Athletic red
Marc White on fast food, Charles Bronson and cycling proficiency tests
Marc White has avoided another pitch-side ban after getting a red card at Oldham Athletic earlier this month.
The Dorking Wanderers boss was sent off 16 minutes into the National League game after kicking away a ball. Only a yellow card if a player does it, the referee elected to follow the letter of the law with a straight red for White – who has only just returned from a lengthy stadium ban.
But White appealed to the FA for leniency in their punishment and got a £300 fine instead of a ban.
“It wasn’t a red card. Well, it’s a red for a manager but only if your team gains an advantage by kicking the ball away, and we didn’t,” he explained. “We aren’t going to appeal the red card but we asked for just a fine rather than a ban.
“I also want them to take into account the quality of the strike on my weaker foot! It could have gone anywhere. I was just frustrated because it was the fourth time my team had kicked the ball out of play in the opening quarter of an hour and it went straight towards my foot.
This was unrelated to all my other cards; it wasn’t for dissent.
“That was silly all round against Oldham; it was a mistake by me, I was frustrated, but common sense refereeing; I wasn’t time wasting, he should have given me a yellow.
“I’m happy with just the £300 fine, especially given the context that on that day I spent £237 in Burger King in a service station on the way home.
“I do think it was a very sensible decision from the FA. I appreciate that from them.
“With these sort of things I normally say to expect the unexpected. I am the Charles Bronson of the football system.”
Another way in which White continues to upset the football authorities is his lack of UEFA coaching licences.
In order to manage in the Football League, White would need a UEFA B and an UEFA A licence – he has neither.
In fact, last season French top-tier side Reims were believed to have been fined £22,000 per game because their interim manager, Will Still, did not have the required UEFA Pro Licence (which is the third and highest level of UEFA licence) to manage in Ligue 1.
But White has no plans to sit through the courses – adding that he believes bosses are discouraging talented young coaches from applying for the courses by favouring ex-professional players.
“I forgot to send my application in – again!” White joked about this year’s UEFA B intake, that was announced earlier this month.
“I’m just old fashioned I guess. Never say never but I’m happy doing things the way I do things.
“One of the things I have against it is the coaching qualifications are really hard to get if you have never been a professional footballer. The PFA help out ex-pros but what about really talented young coaches who haven’t ever played in the Football League? There’s a hierarchy.
“I believe the system unfairly disqualifies lots of young coaches. I’m not a big fan of it all. I’m not sure they’d let me on anyway!”
But White has a plan if Dorking Wanderers were to get promoted.
“I’d just call myself the physio or something, and then still run the team anyway,” White said. “Ross McNeilly has a UEFA B, he’s also passed his cycling proficiency test and he has a HGV driver’s licence, so that should do.
