Exclusive: Ryan fears fans might be driven away from game

Ryan blames falling standards of refereeing, a growing threat to the game's intregrity and the poor example now set by some of the game's highest paid stars.

He insists video technology needs to be introduced as a matter of urgency in the wake of last weekend's handball controversy at Manchester United and is also unhappy with a number of refereeing decisions that have hindered his own club's progress this season.

Ryan, who has spent 13 years serving as chairman of his hometown club, believes the FA will only decide to act if pressure is applied from those involved at the sharp end.

"Things are getting worse in football when they should be getting better," he said. "I am not the only one who wants something to change but the FA just seem happy to stick with the status quo.

"I am worried about the game's future because fans everywhere are becoming disillusioned by bad refereeing decisions, often in favour of the bigger clubs.

"They are fed up with the behaviour of the top players and worried about corruption at the top in the wake of the World Cup 'votes for sale' scandal."

Referee Mark Clattenburg grabbed the headlines in the national press by allowing Manchester United winger Nani to score against Tottenham Hotspur having missed a handball but Ryan was equally incensed by the performance of referee Grant Hegley and his assistants as Rovers slipped to a 4-3 defeat at Reading.

"Common sense is missing from the game and fourth officials should play a larger role in decision making, whether with the aid of video technology, or by buzzing the man in the middle electronically," said Ryan.

"What happened to us last week was a disaster. We were leading

3-2 and the ball went out of play by some distance.

"The linesman was looking the other way," he claimed. "I spoke to him after the game and he said he was looking for a possible offside instead. But that just underlines the need for an extra pair of eyes.

"He failed to see it go out but the fourth official was helpless. What happened next led to their equaliser.

"Talking to some of our fans after the game they were totally disillusioned and frustrated as to why all the decisions appear to go in favour of the big clubs. Not just in the Championship but also in the Premier League.

"Too many referees are just not up to it and it is time we introduced video technology to help football just as it helped cricket where umpires used to get one third of all decisions wrong."

Ryan, 60, was foiled in his attempt to join the FA as regional representative last season but now says he would turn down a similar post if it was offered.

"I did try to get on the FA because I wanted to get things done but they simply don't want people who rock the boat," he said. "I think they prefer people who keep their heads down. If they asked me now, I would not be interested unless they changed their ethos," he said.

"I believe football is still honest but there are serious challenges ahead that need to be addressed as the amounts of money involved continue to spiral.

"For the first time in all these years I feel uneasy with the vast sums of money in football and where this might be leading us.

"The massive presence of gambling in football worries me and it is also wrong that clubs in administration, such as Portsmouth last season, can still carry on spending like drunken sailors."

Unhappy with the behaviour of today's top players, Ryan wagged an angry finger in the direction of Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney.

"He tells one of the greatest clubs in the world they have 'no ambition' and then walks away with a 200,000-a-week deal.

"It is not as if he has done a lot for Manchester United and England of late and it does nothing for the working fans in these times of recession to see him take a club for all he can get while the rest of us tighten our belts.

"The average fan must be well ticked off by his behaviour. People like Sir Bobby Charlton must be appalled. He is a disgrace and I think he should start giving something back to the game that has rewarded him so well.

"There has to be something wrong in football when there are empty seats at Manchester United home games and ticket sales at Doncaster Rovers are down 2,000 on two years ago," Ryan added. "There needs to be more dialogue and it is time to ask where our game is going."