Former Coventry City defender Sam Allardyce has called for academies to be set up for young referees.
Allardyce, now the West Ham United manager called for the academies after his side's 2-1 home defeat to Liverpool.
Allardyce is quoted by the BBC as saying: "Get young referees off the parks and into academies. We don't have enough quality referees.
"They try their best but something has to be done about it.
"We've been saying that something needs to be done for six or seven years. Hopefully one day they will take notice of us.
"I'm talking about the recruitment and development of referees, and their environment.
"Get them off the parks and into academies of young referees. Our next level should be professional assistant referees. It would improve communication."