Justin Edinburgh believes that match referees are being promoted too quickly.

League 1 leaders Gillingham have been officiated by an inexperienced referee in the last two games.

It’s a situation Gills boss Edinburgh questioned.

“I am probably going to get in trouble,” said Edinburgh, before hitting out.

“We have had two young referees in our last two games. I know they have to learn and progress but there are different games at different levels for them to progress.

“For them to come straight to a Division 1 game – on Tuesday when we played Scunthorpe and Saturday’s top-of--the- table derby clash – for someone to not have many Football
League games under his belt, it is the wrong call.”

Edinburgh was left frustrated by referee Lee Swabey’s decision to send Josh Wright off in midweek. It was one of several contentious decisions during the evening match against Scunthorpe.

It was only the second League 1 game Swabey had officiated, having been promoted from non-league this season.

Saturday’s official Ben Toner also took charge at Priestfield in what was only his second ever League 1 assignment. He was refereeing Conference football last season.

Toner was criticised by Southend boss Phil Brown on Saturday and Edinburgh wasn’t too pleased about his performance either.

“It was too big for him – it was too much,” said the Gills manager.

“Is that fair on him? Possibly not. Are they fast-tracking them too quickly, I think so.

“We had one here Tuesday and we had the same again.”

Edinburgh felt Mr Toner wasn’t brave enough in his decision making, pointing to a foul from Southend’s Gary Deegan that should have led to a second yellow.

He said: “I think that Phil Brown’s decision to sub him (Deegan) as soon as the free-kick had been taken told a story.

“He denied an opportunity of someone going into the box for the second foul and 99 times out of 100 that’s a yellow card. Did he not feel brave enough to do that? He shouldn’t have to. He should feel natural and he didn’t.

“Perhaps he is not ready to be doing games this size. That is harsh but perhaps it is too soon for him.”