Steve Lomas won’t be appealing his eight-game touchline ban.
But that hasn’t stopped the Perth boss launching a staunch defence of his behaviour.
Still reeling from the unexpected punishment, Lomas has insisted he isn’t looking for battles with Scotland’s referees.
He was stunned by a six-game sanction imposed for clashing with an assistant at Celtic Park, which was hot on the heels of a two-game suspended ban for ”diving” comments aimed at Ross County’s Richie Brittain after Perth striker Rowan Vine was controversially red carded in Dingwall.
But he stressed: ”I don’t have a problem with Scottish officials. Look at the incidents one by one.
”That day up in Dingwall I was actually backing the referee.
”My mum used to say that if I told the truth nothing bad would come of it but now I’m beginning to wonder.
”Against Celtic I was annoyed when Tony Watt came on well into our half after treatment.”
”But I put my hands up to that one and apologised right after the game if my language was out of order in the heat of the moment.
”Then I was sent to the stand last week in the game with Hibs but once again that wasn’t for crossing swords with a referee.
”I was frustrated because Nigel Hasselbaink took and missed a penalty and he isn’t our designated taker.
”I kicked out at a box of water bottles on the track. It was out of sheer frustration and had absolutely nothing to do with contesting a decision.
”I certainly don’t see myself as being hostile to referees.
”I know full well that they have a difficult job on their hands. But they have to understand this is a passionate game. Managers badly want to see their team doing well and kick every ball with their players.
”I’m out of the dug-out for more than two months and potentially could be staring at a ban that runs into double figures. Obviously I have to learn from this but I do feel the length of the ban imposed is severe very, very harsh.”
Lomas has given his backing to Celtic manager Neil Lennon’s call for peace talks with SFA disciplinary officer Vince Lunny.
He said: ”I know where Lenny is coming from and I’m all for it. It would be beneficial for refs and managers alike if we got to know each other a bit better. If we communicate better it reduces the scope for misunderstandings.”
The Perth manager was disappointed that Saints’ weekend Scottish Cup trip to Cowdenbeath was frozen out by a morning pitch inspection at Central Park. It has been rearranged for tomorrow night.
”We wanted the match on so it was disappointing.
”But hopefully the additional covers we sent down from Perth will help the prospects of getting a game on Tuesday,” he said.