As Scotland's category one referees prepared for a weekend of strike action, their morale was further hit by news of the demise of Dallas, who has lost his post as head of referees development.

Neither the SFA nor Dallas have commented publicly on the development but BBC Scotland today reported that Dallas had told them he had been sacked.

Dallas, who was fourth official in the 2002 World Cup final, had been the subject of a disciplinary investigation into allegations that a controversial email referring to the Pope's visit to Scotland had been circulated through the SFA's official email system.

Thomson, whose most recent assignment was Real Madrid's 4-0 Champions League win over Ajax in midweek, warned that Scotland had lost one of its top performers in the game.

"I see him as a world-class individual within Scottish football," Thomson told Press Association Sport.

"There are not many World Cup finalists within our game. The coaching experience he can pass on to referees is immeasurable, particularly to guys involved in European games.

"For a small footballing country in European terms, we are punching well above our weight in terms of matches and rankings. There is a lot of work behind the scenes that I'm hoping won't be lost. On a day-to-day basis it will be difficult to continue.

"It's a low day for us, whether we agree with the punishment or not is another issue."

But Thomson added: "To have a World Cup finalist in our midst and for some reason to get rid of him is a detriment to referees."

As Scotland's category one referees prepared for a weekend of strike action, their morale was further hit by news of the demise of Dallas, who has lost his post as head of referees development.

Neither the SFA nor Dallas have commented publicly on the development but BBC Scotland today reported that Dallas had told them he had been sacked.

Dallas, who was fourth official in the 2002 World Cup final, had been the subject of a disciplinary investigation into allegations that a controversial email referring to the Pope's visit to Scotland had been circulated through the SFA's official email system.

Thomson, whose most recent assignment was Real Madrid's 4-0 Champions League win over Ajax in midweek, warned that Scotland had lost one of its top performers in the game.

"I see him as a world-class individual within Scottish football," Thomson told Press Association Sport.

"There are not many World Cup finalists within our game. The coaching experience he can pass on to referees is immeasurable, particularly to guys involved in European games.

"For a small footballing country in European terms, we are punching well above our weight in terms of matches and rankings. There is a lot of work behind the scenes that I'm hoping won't be lost. On a day-to-day basis it will be difficult to continue.

"It's a low day for us, whether we agree with the punishment or not is another issue."

But Thomson added: "To have a World Cup finalist in our midst and for some reason to get rid of him is a detriment to referees."