Premier League ref steps down for derby clash

Premiership referee Stuart Attwell will be stood on the sidelines as fourth official for tomorrow's derby clash between local rivals Rochdale and Bury.

The 26-year old, who became the youngest ever Premier League referee earlier this season, has been assigned a more low key role this weekend after enduring a torrid time of things in the midweek game between Wigan and West Ham, in which Attwell showed two red cards and seven yellow.

Attwell has been criticised for some of his recent performances, although his fall to League Two officiating for this Saturday's game has not been termed a demotion by the Professional Game Match Officials Ltd.

Dale fans will remember the official from their trip to Wembley to face Stockport in the League Two play-off final. Attwell was the man in the middle that day after he was rewarded for receiving 'brilliant marks' from match delegates during his first season in the football league.

While Attwell marshalls the touchline tomorrow, there will be a more experiencing premiership referee in the middle in the form of Alan Wiley, one of the country's most well known and respected match officials.

Wiley has refereed in the League and FA Cup finals and overseen many high profile premiership fixtures. He was last in charge of Rochdale in 1997, overseeing a 4-0 win for Dale at home to Scarborough.