Pat Fenlon: Goal-line cameras not priority

• SPL likely to miss out on Hawkeye due to cost.

• Fenlon says bringing in further appeal measures may be too far.

The 20 Barclays Premier League sides south of the border yesterday gave approval for the Hawkeye system to be introduced from the start of next season.

But Easter Road boss Fenlon - whose side were denied an Edinburgh derby win over Hearts last month when striker Leigh Griffiths wrongly had a free-kick chalked off despite seeing the strike clear the goal-line - says there are more pressing issues to tackle north of the border.

The Scottish Premier League and counterparts from the Scottish Football League are still locked in talks over league reconstruction while there are also concerns over falling attendances across the country.

Fenlon said: “We had a fairly big example of this kind of goal-line decision and it was obviously a goal.

“It was disappointing, especially as it was in a derby game but it looks like the costs will be too much for them to bring it in to Scotland.

Massive impact

“We just have to go on what the SPL tells us. If they don’t have the money, then fair enough.

“Are there bigger issues to be addressed up here? Yeah, of course there are. The money has to be spent wisely and it’s fair to say goal-line technology is not the priority.”

There have also been calls for teams to be handed video reviews in order to allow appeals over other contentious decisions but Fenlon is not a fan of the idea.

He said: “That’s far enough now. Yeah okay, bring in goal-line technology. But anything more than that would be a step too far.

“Goal-line decisions are real game changers. If a goal is scored but isn’t given, it can have a massive, massive impact on the game.

“But I think we should try and let the referees ref the game.”

With rule changes on the back-burner, Fenlon’s focus is now on taking care of Irn-Bru First Division side Falkirk in Saturday’s William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final clash.

The game comes just 11 months after the Edinburgh side’s last trip to Hampden, when they were humiliated in a 5-1 cup final defeat to city rivals Hearts.

Focused

But the Irishman insists he has not said a word about that derby disaster to his players and will instead tell them to remember back to their last-four win over Aberdeen last term if they must look for past inspiration.

He said: “I said after the final last year that there was nothing I could do about the defeat at that point. It was done and dusted.

“My mind is now focused on leading this club to another cup final. That’s all I’m thinking about. We just need to go to Hampden and give it our best.

“I haven’t spoke to the players about it or anyone else since then. It wasn’t nice. We had to take it on the chin and move on.

“If you are looking for a memory to fall back on, then last year’s semi-final was a great occasion for us. That is something we want to replicate again and book ourselves another big day out.”