EXCLUSIVE by Tony Kelly

Steps are to be taken to erase the 'stoppage-time' anguish suffered by York City against leaders Watford.

A fortnight ago City management, players and supporters were left fuming by Watford's equaliser struck in the sixth minute of time added on for stoppages by referee George Cain.

There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by the official - as most impartial observers noted, he played the requisite 45 minutes in the second-half - but that game was one of several that raised the hackles of stoppage-time.

Now the Football League has unveiled a 'trial' plan aimed at taking the heat out of any uncertainty about the end of a game.

From a week tomorrow until the end of the season the reserve official will display the amount of minutes to be added to a game.

The move, which has been agreed by the Referees' Committee, follows "an increasing number of complaints and observations from managers, the media and spectators", said Football League secretary David Dent.

Starting from March 14 at the end of the first-half and second-half match referees will signal to the fourth official on the touchline the amount of additional time.

"The Reserve official will then, using the substitute number board, indicate the number of minutes to be added," explained Dent's statement to clubs.

"The number shown will indicate the minimum number of additional minutes and any subsequent injuries or additional delays, including time-wasting, will result in further time being added on."

Clubs will be asked in the close season about the effectiveness of the trial, during which referees have been asked by the League not to allow it to interfere with their control of games.

Dent also reminded what incidents constituted the addition of stoppage time: substitutions: assessment of injury to players; removal of injured players from the field for treatment; wasting time; and 'any other cause'.

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