FORMER Premiership referee Clive Wilkes says the image of top level football is more tarnished now than it has ever been.

Wilkes, from Corse, is the best referee the Forest has ever produced.

He worked his way up the pyramid from the North Glos League to the top flight, taking charge of 774 league games between 1984 and 2003. Still in touch with those at the top of the game, he believes some Premier League referees are even considering boycotting Chelsea games in the wake of the recent allegations made against Mark Clattenburg.

Police and the Football Association have launched formal investigations into allegations that Clattenburg used inappropriate language towards Chelsea player John Obi Mikel. Clattenburg is understood to strenuously deny the accusations.

Wilkes put himself at the centre of football's latest storm this week to speak up for his former colleagues – who he says cannot speak up for themselves. He told The Forester: "I keep in contact with quite a few of the boys and they are feeling frustrated and fragile.

"Referees have always had hard times, but not like this season. I really feel for them. From the very first game all the talk has been about players diving, will he or won't he shake hands or will he wear an anti-racism t-shirt, no one is talking about the football anymore.

"Refs have lost trust in the players. They feel unsupported and disillusioned."

During his pro career, Wilkes refereed five Wembley finals, was involved in the first ever game under a roof (Manchester United v Liverpool in the Community Shield at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff) and was the first referee to have a female assistant.

He also holds the world record for the quickest sending off – at zero seconds!

He says something has got to be done to improve the relationship between players and referees because what happens at the top level cascades down into the grass-roots game.

He said: "I feel the honesty has gone out of the game.

"I think there is now more public support for refs because many people feel they are being hung out to dry.

"We've all got responsibilities to the game.

"These boys refereeing have got strong characters but an exceptionally difficult job is being made impossible.

"We all love this game but I cannot remember a time when football had such a negative image."