Welling manager Warren Feeney revealed captain James Dunne saw red on Saturday – for tripping over the referee.

The Wings skipper collected a second yellow card in the 83rd minute of their 1-1 draw at National League South leaders.

It means the visitors finished the game with nine men after Stefan Payne was red carded in the first half for foul and abusive language.

Feeney was far from impressed with referee Ben Atkinson, particularly after talking to the official during the half-time break.

“I know referees have a tough job but what he said to me at half-time is probably the most arrogant thing I’ve heard from anyone in professional football,” said Feeney.

“I went in and said ‘I can’t argue with what Payney said’, I went in to ask about other things.

“One of their players said ‘we asked how much are you paying the referee’ and if that’s not in the game of a red card then I don’t know what is.

“The second one he sent him off for a second yellow for tripping him, the referee, which I’ve never heard in my life. I didn’t know the referee was playing today.

“The thing at half-time was I went into see him and said can you tell me the minute they scored in please as you put up five minutes and his reply to me was read it on Twitter.

“People want us to liaise with these guys but if he’s coming out with comments like that he doesn’t deserve to be in football, I’m sorry.”

There appeared to be no love lost between the two benches either during the 90 minutes.

Feeney added: “I was trying to be the peacekeeper which is not like me, believe me.

“We’re passionate, you’re coming up against the team that is going to be right up there at the end of the season and I think that’s what has gone out of football. It’s enjoyable and you’ll always get stuff off the sidelines.

“I was brought up with managers who wore their hearts on their sleeve, I always responded to managers who stayed on top of me. I would love to sit there and enjoy the game but you can’t.

“I love Mourinho, Conte and Diego Simeone - I absolutely adore Simone. You always remember that time when Atletico played Man City but that’s what they are about, that’s their style. Take that away from them and people are going to say they want the old Simone back.

“I love it, I try and join in in training but my knee is a bit sore at the minute so I give it my all on the bench! When you see performances like that it’s all worth it.”

Feeney was still to discuss Payne’s red card with the player in detail but, having just returned from suspension for five yellow cards, it means he could now be without the forward for a further three games.

The Wings boss sees much of himself in Payne, though.

“He’s got to take his medicine and get on with it,” said Feeney. “He’s a fiery player, I was like that myself, and I’m still the same on the sidelines. I will have to assess what he has done.”

The red card means Feeney will aim to make another signing, possibly ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Braintree.

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He’s been given the go-ahead to add another striker to his squad.

“We’re looking at a player we’ve had in training, he’s an experienced player who fits the ball of what we want,” he said. “The boss (owner) has come to me and said get the deal done.

“There’s going to be one or two more that hopefully we can get out but players have got contracts. I was always one of them that couldn’t sit on the bench if I wasn’t playing, I wanted to play. I was one of those that would kick down the manager’s door every day, it’s pride. It’s not fun, I’ve never heard that and that’s what I was told this week.

“I’ve got great owners and they came to me and said ‘get that striker’ so I’ll be driving home tonight and phoning that striker.”