Whitstable boss Marcel Nimani says “the gloves are off” as he called for a debate over the standard of some of the officiating in the Southern Counties East Premier Division this season.

Nimani’s Oystermen are level on points with fifth-placed Bearsted after they played out a goalless weekend draw against their hosts.

That followed last Wednesday’s 1-0 victory at another play-off chasing side, Snodland, when striker Harvey Smith scored.

Whitstable had fallen victim to a controversial offside call in last month’s 1-1 home draw with Punjab United - Nimani was reluctant at the time to be too critical - but he feels enough is enough and things need to change after more controversy at Bearsted.

Reflecting on that goalless stalemate, he said: “There were two sides to it.

“The first side is that, with our new patterns, it’s very pleasing that we were still productive on the ball and created chances. That’s something that’s in our control.

“But it doesn’t matter how many chances you create if you’re not taking them. The first half was quite an even game at Bearsted.

“In the second half, we recycled the ball better - but I think the gloves are off now. We had three [incorrect] offside calls in 18 minutes in the second half on Saturday.

“In two of them, two defenders are playing them on! It’s just not acceptable.

“To add insult to injury, we were denied a stonewall penalty in the second half, to the extent the opposition bench were laughing.

“The penalty, you can kind of swallow it because it’s subjective. But it needs to change.

“On reflection, some officials’ calls have cost us a lot of points this season.”

Nimani brought his own ideas to the table around what could be done to help solve the issue.

He’s open to any suggestions at this point, though.

He added: “It’s not personal.

“They’re lovely gentlemen - they have all been males (officiating Whitstable’s last three matches).

“But the non-league scene in the south-east is the best it’s ever been - and it’s just not on. It definitely needs debating.

“Step Five is no longer somewhere for officials to get fit or get experience. Maybe all clubs need to be taxed a little bit more so there’s more money to train them. I’m open to anything.

“But it needs to be debated. It’s not fair on them (the officials), either.”

Despite some key decisions going against them, Whitstable’s results have still largely been positive.

Nimani admitted: “We had a good seven days.

“We drew with Punjab, beat Snodland away and drew with Bearsted away.

“We have always felt we have been too open in the last month or so. But, in the last three games, we have only conceded one goal from outside the box.

“That’s very pleasing. We just need to be more clinical.”

Those results have helped keep the Oystermen on the fringes of the play-offs, with a home Kent Senior Trophy Semi-Final tie against Division 1 Croydon to come.

“We have got a double objective of [winning] the play-offs and the Kent Senior Trophy,” added Nimani, who revealed goal-scoring midfielder Josh Oliver and left-back George Sheminant have still not returned to full fitness yet.

“Our objectives are still alive and that’s what we have got to keep focusing on.”

Whitstable face a trip to VCD this Saturday. While the Vickers are firmly in the middle echelons of the table, they had only dropped two points from their last five league fixtures before Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat at Tunbridge Wells.

“We seem to be playing these teams at their peak form,” admitted Nimani.

“If you look at VCD’s form, they’re up there with the top three in recent games whereas, two months ago, they were in poor form.

“But if we want to get to the play-offs, we have to beat the best. VCD are up there with the best at the moment.

“It should be a good game.”