SHOCKED Poole Town boss Tom Killick labelled his punishment “draconian” after he had been handed a six-match stadium ban by the Football Association.

However, Killick admitted that an incident during Dolphins’ 1-0 defeat at home to Redditch United on Saturday, January 17 – to which the ban relates – “shouldn’t have happened”.

An FA spokesman told the Daily Echo: “It was alleged that during the fixture between Poole Town and Redditch, Mr Killick used abusive and/or insulting words towards the match officials contrary to E3 (1).

“It is further alleged that this breach of E3 (1) was an aggravated breach as defined by E3 (2) and it included a reference to sexual orientation.”

Killick admitted a charge of improper conduct and requested a non-personal hearing.

Under FA rules, discriminatory offences carry a minimum five-match ban but an FA commission elected to give Killick a six-match ban.

He was fined £300 and ordered to attend an education course.

As a result of his punishment, Killick will miss league clashes with Dunstable tomorrow, Bideford, Arlesey and Cambridge as well as both legs of the Southern League Cup final against Corby.

The Dolphins boss told the Daily Echo: “There was a conversation between me and the referee, he reported me and the content of what was said is somewhat in dispute.

“I should know better by now than to get involved in disputes with referees but I never expected a punishment as draconian as this.

“It’s something that shouldn’t have happened and I regret it. If you have done wrong then you have to suffer the consequences.”

Killick, who three years ago was given a four-match ban for insulting a referee, added: “I had said to myself that I wasn’t going to get myself into any more difficulties, and I have. I’m ashamed of that.

“But the team is very strong and are a very determined group so I don’t think it will affect us too much.”