Actually it is a closed shop. Most refs in the EFL are part time, the ‘elite’ select group are all full time and part of a constant training. So throwing in some new ref likely with some kind of job / other commitments to get up to speed isn’t ideal. But there’s a decent number in the select...
Was Atwell that much to blame ? VAR let him down more then he did himself IMO.
Plus Webb has already got rid of some serial mistake makers so not sure that is ‘looking after their own’