Crusaders manager Stephen Baxter says he is surprised Saturday's opponents Glenavon have not challenged for the Irish Premiership title this season.

The Crues, champions for the last two seasons and seven points clear the the top, travel to Lurgan having won six of their last seven league fixtures.
"I thought they might be the nearest challengers this year," said Baxter.
"They have maybe been a bit off colour but they have not lost many matches and are a top team with quality players."
Irish Cup holders Glenavon's league form has been patchy and they are in sixth place, but Gary Hamilton's men did win last time out with a 2-1 derby victory over bottom club Portadown.
Second-placed Linfield travel to Dungannon Swifts aware they need to keep winning matches and hope the Crues slip up on several occasions in the run-in.
Dungannon do not have a good record against Linfield and suffered their heaviest defeat of the season when losing 4-0 at home to David Healy's team in November.
"If you don't turn up against Linfield you face the prospect of losing quite heavily," said Swifts manager Rodney McAree.
"We have to make sure we produce a more committed performance than we did the last time.
"We must fight tooth and nail with them and see where that takes us."
Ballymena United host Carrick Rangers three weeks before the sides meet in the NI League Cup final.
"The last time Carrick came to the Showgrounds it was a very tight affair," said United manager David Jeffrey.
"These are the type of games which define our season, and we have to pick ourselves up from last week's defeat at Linfield."
Inconsistent Glentoran, eighth in the table, are at home to 10th-placed Ballinamallard.
"We desperately want to break into the top six but Ballinamallard will be difficult," said Glens boss Gary Haveron.
"I went to their recent match against Carrick and they were impressive, but if you want to kick on you have to beat the teams in and around you."
Carrick expect to include Declan O'Brien who signed on Thursday from Glenavon.
Cliftonville are favourites to pick up what would be only a second league win in six as they host bottom club Portadown.
Coleraine, up to fourth, will attempt to make it five Premiership wins in a row when they play Ards at the Showgrounds.


A US judge in Ohio has fatally shot a gunman who critically wounded him in an ambush-style attack outside court.

Judge Joseph Bruzzese Jr was shot several times just after 08:00 local time (12:00 GMT) in Steubenville on Monday morning.
Sheriff Fred Abdalla told reporters the attacker and the judge exchanged about five shots each.
A court officer also fired several shots at the suspect.
The Jefferson County prosecutor identified the attacker as Nathaniel Richmond, but said they had not yet identified a motive.
Mr Richmond is the father of Ma'Lik Richmond, a high school football player whose rape conviction made national headlines in the 2012.
Prosecutor Jane Hanlin said there is no connection between Judge Bruzzese and that rape case.
Judge Bruzzese, who has been on the bench at the Jefferson County courthouse since 1998, was airlifted to hospital in Pittsburgh to undergo emergency surgery.
The Steubenville city manager says that the judge is out of surgery and "doing fine".
Sheriff Abdalla said he had advised the 65-year-old judge several years ago to carry a firearm during his commute.
"This individual laid in wait, for our judge," the sheriff told reporters hours after the shootout.
"It just hurts. First thing on a Monday morning.
"You have a judge shot in front of his courthouse, and that affected me. This was ambush and attempted murder on our judge."
Police have also detained the driver who brought the attacker to the courthouse, but say they believe he did not know what his passenger was plotting.
The sheriff added that both men had served time in prison.
"He's shooting and shooting," Sherriff Abdalla said at a news conference. "He's right up to the judge.
"And that's when he fires another round and he shoved the judge over and then he takes off running towards his vehicle."
The courthouse has been closed for the rest of the day and for Tuesday as detectives process the crime scene.
The state governor has been updated on the situation and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is leading the investigation.


Has India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) taken its biggest gamble ever by making the general election a referendum on its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi?

To be sure, Mr Modi is loved and loathed in equal measure.
His supporters believe his muscular nationalism and a carefully built reputation as a ruthlessly efficient administrator running the economically prosperous state of Gujarat make him a person fit to rule India. His critics insist he is India's most polarising politician, who refuses to apologise for the religious rioting under his watch in Gujarat in 2002.
The BJP believes India has moved on and that under Mr Modi's leadership they have their best chance of winning an election at a time when anger and disappointment with the incumbent Congress party is at an all-time high.  Opinion polls appear to validate such optimism, giving the Mr Modi-led BJP a handsome lead over a subdued Congress.
Despite misgivings within a section of the party, the BJP has allowed a form of personality cult to grow around the controversial and charismatic Modi, critics say. He is anywhere and everywhere you look - in the newspapers, on the TV networks, on bus shelters, on the metro. He has run a fiercely energetic campaign, criss-crossing the length and breadth of India and speaking to packed public meetings.  He is, as a friend says in jest, omnipresent.
Mr Modi represents a return to personalised politics, not seen in India since the days of Indira Gandhi in the 1970s. That was a time when she was controversially equated with India by an enthusiastic party elder and her Congress party used to win thumping majorities in what essentially was one-party rule.
Since the rise of regional parties and the fragmentation of Indian politics in the late 1980s, the country has been governed by multi-party coalitions. A total of 363 parties participated in the 2009 general elections, up from 35 in 1984. Most believe the maddening alphabet soup of regional parties points to healthier federalism. More significantly, the two main parties, the Congress and the BJP, won barely half of the popular vote in the last five elections.
Will that change this time round?
The BJP believes that Mr Modi's track record and charisma will lead to consolidation of votes in their favour and help the party to win an elusive majority. Others are not so sure. They believe the BJP's strategy to personalise the election is risky as voters not inclined to back Mr Modi, including Muslims who comprise 15% of India's voters, may unite to defeat him and his party.
Politics has become increasingly personalised in Western liberal democracies, partly because of the growth and reach of electronic media which feeds on personalities rather than issues. In India, Mr Modi has swamped the networks and saturated the air waves with his message in what many say is an attempt to portray himself as a presidential-style candidate.
But political scientists like Sanjay Kumar of the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), a leading Delhi-based think tank,  sound a note of warning. Mr Kumar believes that the personalisation of politics is India is a "short-lived phenomenon", and will not last for very long in a "such a vast and heterogeneous country with strong regional parties".
If that's so - why has BJP put all its eggs in one basket?
Many say the party didn't have a choice, especially after losing two successive elections in 2004 and 2009 with ageing party patriarch Lal Krishna Advani at the helm. "They are trying an experiment with Mr Modi and are hoping to win," says Sanjay Kumar. "It may work or it may not."


The scorer of the fastest hat-trick in football, Tommy Ross, has died at the age of 71.

Mr Ross set the Guinness World Record by scoring three goals in 90 seconds as an 18-year-old while playing for Ross County against Nairn County in 1964.
The previous record had been set by a Gillingham player in the 1950s.
Mr Ross went on to play for a number of English clubs, including Peterborough United, Wigan Athletic and York City, as well as Scottish side Brora Rangers.
News of his death was announced by Tain football club St Duthus, which he managed during the 1990s.
The club, which plays in the North Caledonian League, has posted tributes to Mr Ross on social media.
St Duthus said everyone at the club "extend their deepest and most heartfelt sympathies to Tommy's family and close friends at this difficult time".
Mr Ross played six games for Peterborough United and scored two goals.
Wigan Athletic said it was "saddened" to hear of his death.
"He was with us for a season only back in our non-league days in 1969, but is remembered fondly by those supporters who watched him," it said.
Inver-born Mr Ross joined Ross County in 1961 at the age of 15, and scored his first goal for the club that same season.
He scored 44 goals during the 1964-65 season, when he secured his place in history with three goals in 90 seconds against Highlands rivals Nairn County.
His form attracted attention from a number of clubs on both sides of the border, including Cardiff City, Millwall, Newcastle and Aberdeen in Scotland, before he moved to Peterborough United in 1965.
He then played for York City, Wigan Athletic and Rossendale United before returning to Scotland to play for Brora Rangers in the 1970s.
He then got involved in coaching, and took the reigns of Tain St Duthus for several seasons in the mid 90s.
Two of his sons, Stuart and Andrew Ross, are now the management team in charge of St Duthus, which was revived as a club last year.
As well as playing for Brora Rangers, Mr Ross started a construction company with his brothers John and James.
He later worked at North Sea oil and gas industry yards in Nigg and Ardersier in the Highlands, and for a car sales company in Inverness.
Mr Ross also worked as a youth scout for Tottenham Hotspur, based in the north.


Back in March the former DUP health minister Jim Wells told the BBC his party was going to avoid election hustings during this campaign.

It is easy to understand why Mr Wells took that view, given the furore over the controversial comments he made during a discussion of same sex marriage at a hustings event before last year's Westminster election.
Not surprisingly, Mr Wells' colleagues haven't observed any hustings boycott.
Paul Givan, for example, turned up to a debate I hosted at a school in the Lagan Valley constituency last month that featured a number of would-be MLAs.
Then, earlier this month, Mr Wells himself attended a hustings type event that concentrated on health care provision in South Down.
As I write this blog, I am listening to the DUP's Carla Lockhart contributing to the BBC Talkback's Upper Bann constituency debate alongside other candidates. It's the latest in a series of lively hustings style broadcasts Talkback has brought us from some constituencies .
While some politicians might find them uncomfortable, local hustings remain a valuable way for voters to test their would-be representatives' bona fides.
Searching across the web, you can find farmers disgruntled that the DUP and Sinn Féin didn't turn up to their debate at Loughry College in Mid Ulster.
In Foyle, an independent candidate, Dr Anne McCloskey, stirred controversy when talking about abortion during an event organised by the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities.
If you want to know what some of our local parties had to say about same sex marriage and other issues of interest to the LGBT community, you can check out this video stream of a North Belfast event held earlier this month.
For their part, Christian voters have been questioning candidates about their stance on the issues at a series of events held at church halls across Northern Ireland.
Before others accost me for not mentioning their debate, I should stress that I am trying to provide a flavour of what's been going on, rather than an exhaustive list.
Of course if you were able to add up the total number of people who attend such events, it would probably only be a tiny percentage of those who vote on 5 May.
Party strategists might, with some justification, regard those who attend hustings as more likely to be committed activists for particular causes rather than floating voters. But that's democracy for you, and rather than replacing them, broadcast debates and social media have tended to complement traditional hustings.
Of course it's not only at a hustings event that a politician can drop the ball.
With Stephen Nolan continuing to cast his eye over the detail of manifestos, the SDLP's Gerard Diver found himself in difficulties over the costings of his party's manifesto.
The party pledged  to fund initiatives such as its Strong Start Fund for children and reduced tuition fees through the cash provided to Northern Ireland by George Osborne's latest budget.
That contained what's known as a Barnett consequential of £223m for Northern Ireland, but while Mr Diver initially assumed this was per year, Stephen Nolan was able to point out the sum from the Treasury is in fact spread out over four years.
On the face of it, that sounded like a gap of a whopping £669m in the SDLP costings. However, later the party insisted its key pledges still remain fully funded through the budget process.
As Mr Diver was wiping the sweat from his brow in our Radio Foyle studio, elsewhere in Derry, Sinn Féin was launching its manifesto.
If Arlene Foster can have a five-point plan, then Martin McGuinness had to have a 10-point plan.
If some of the two parties' objectives sound awfully familiar, it's because they are both drawn from previously agreed Stormont initiatives. Although, of course, Sinn Féin's Point 10,  "Building The Momentum Towards Irish Unity", is conspicuous by its absence from the DUP plan.
Elsewhere on the election trail, the Ulster Unionists have been citing the latest setback for a £300m regeneration project in Belfast as evidence - in their view - of the executive's failure to deliver,  while Alliance crossed swords with the SDLP over the future of St Mary's Teacher Training College in West Belfast.
Nigel Farage also paid East Belfast a visit predicting that UKIP would win Assembly seats, despite the retirement of his outgoing MLA David McNarry.
So far, to be honest, it hasn't been the most exciting assembly election campaign I have ever covered, but perhaps the BBC Leader's TV debate, which is on Tuesday night next week, will provide a spark.
Alternatively, if you've been to a local hustings which you thought was as exciting as last year's gathering in Downpatrick, then let me know.


The Irish government has said it has "never accepted the UK's claim to the whole of Lough Foyle" after the dispute was raised in the House of Commons.

The lough stretches from County Londonderry in Northern Ireland to the  Republic of Ireland's County Donegal.
Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire was asked about the territorial claim in the Commons.
He replied that the British government's position "remains that the whole of Lough Foyle is within the UK".
However, the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said there is "uncertainty concerning the extent to which each side exercises jurisdiction within Lough Foyle".
In a statement to Irish broadcaster RTÃ‰, it added that this had "created practical difficulties for the conduct of a number of activities there".
The DFA statement confirmed that five years ago, the territorial dispute was discussed by the then Irish minister for foreign affairs and the British foreign secretary.
It said both governments "agreed to seek to address and resolve jurisdictional issues relating to both Lough Foyle and Carlingford Lough" and added that Anglo-Irish talks have been taking place since that 2011 meeting.
The DFA said the issues involved are "complex" but added it did not envisage the dispute forming part of the Brexit negotiations.
Territorial claims over the ownership of waters between the Republic of Ireland and the UK have ebbed and flowed since the partition of Ireland in 1922.
This time, the issue resurfaced when David Anderson, a Labour MP from the north east of England, submitted a written question to the Northern Ireland secretary of state.
He asked Mr Brokenshire "whether the boundary of County Londonderry with Ireland is on the western shore of Lough Foyle; and if he will make a statement".
On Wednesday, Northern Ireland secretary responded with one sentence: "The government's position remains that the whole of Lough Foyle is within the UK."


As Britain comes to terms with reports of widespread sexual abuse in football, gymnastics in the United States is dealing with its own growing scandal.

A nine-month investigative report by the Indianapolis Star newspaper has just been published, and the scope of its claims is startling.
After reviewing hundreds of police files and court cases, the paper says "at least" 368 American gymnasts have made allegations of sexual abuse in the past 20 years.
The report claims 115 adults "at every level of the sport" are implicated in the abuse.
Dr Larry Nassar, who used to work for the body that governs US gymnastics, is the subject of two separate lawsuits alleging sexual abuse - which he denies.
And USA Gymnastics has itself been accused of failing to protect athletes.
Meanwhile, the journalists who have been investigating for much of the year believe "there is still a lot more to come out".
In August, the Indianapolis Star published a story detailing allegations of sexual abuse committed by coaches working for USA Gymnastics. It claimed that the sporting body did not report allegations of abuse to relevant authorities.
Tim Evans, one of the journalists working on the paper's ongoing investigation, told BBC Sport they first heard details of the abuse in March.
"My colleague Marisa [Kwiatkowski] was looking at another case in basketball when it was suggested she look at gymnastics," he said.
"When that initial story was published we had three women call us and say that Dr Nassar did things to them. They did not know each other and their stories were almost identical.
"We spent a month or so investigating Nassar."
In September, former club gymnast Rachael Denhollander waived her right to anonymity and, in an interview with the Indy Star, detailed the abuse she allegedly suffered at the hands Dr Nassar.
Speaking to BBC World Service's Sportshour programme, Denhollander said Dr Nassar allegedly sexually assaulted her during treatment for back and wrist injuries, despite her mother being in the room.
This is as big as anything we've uncovered in recent years
She said: "He would position himself so she could not see what he was doing. The other dynamic is that he was very trusted. It was very difficult to reconcile the person he was supposed to be with what he was doing, so the only conclusion I could come to was that I must be making a mistake.
She added: "That the truth has not come out in the past 18 years is something that has haunted me. The only thing that I feel now is very deep grief. I did not feel the need to come forward publicly for myself - there is nothing I gain from this for myself.
"But to be able to see the other women have a voice, that is worth everything. That is more powerful a motivation than fear."
Dr Nassar has been accused of sexual assault in two lawsuits filed by two former US women gymnasts. He denies the claims. The pair are also suing USA Gymnastics because they claim its policies allowed the abuse to continue.
Lawyer John Manley is representing the two athletes.
He told Sportshour: "Our allegations are that US Gymnastics made a choice at the highest level to cover up for Dr Nassar and others, and sacrifice children.
"Case in point: they fired Nassar in early 2015 and they didn't tell anyone, including Michigan State University, where he was allowed to continue to see young girls as a doctor, even after US Gymnastics had terminated his services because they believed he was an abuser.
"That is a stunning revelation, but they kept it secret. The reason child sexual abuse flourishes is because of secrecy.
"Our goal for our clients is to get them justice, but it is also to fundamentally change the way elite sport does business in this country."
USA Gymnastics says it severed ties with Dr Nassar in 2015 when claims were brought to its attention. It denies that allegations of abuse were kept quiet in order to preserve the sport's reputation.
The organisation says it is "proud of the work it has done to address and guard against child sexual abuse" and has passed evidence on to the FBI.
USA Gymnastics was asked by BBC Sport whether its staff knew of Dr Nassar's alleged misconduct during the period he was employed.
It responded: "When USA Gymnastics learned of athlete concerns about Dr Nassar we immediately notified the FBI and relieved Nassar of any further assignments.
"Since then, we have co-operated with the FBI while the investigation has moved forward. Our support has and continues to include refraining from making further public statements or taking any other action that might interfere with the investigation. We are grateful to the athletes for coming forward to share their concerns."
Larry Nassar was a member of the USA Gymnastics medical staff from 1986 and team doctor for the women's team from 1996. He left the Indianapolis-based organisation in 2015.
He also worked with gymnasts at Michigan State University and has a website selling DVDs of rehabilitation programs for injured gymnasts.
He was arrested and charged on 21 November for alleged criminal sexual conduct against a child, who was neither a gymnast nor a patient. The abuse is alleged to have taken place at his Michigan home.
Others have alleged that they were sexually assaulted by him, including patients at Michigan State University. The university confirmed to the BBC that its police are currently investigating about 50 complaints.
Dr Nassar's lawyer Matt Newburg told the BBC his firm was continuing a "review of the reports".
Nassar made his first court appearance this month. He faced three sexual assault charges against a girl under 13. He pleaded not guilty.
A preliminary hearing was due to take place in December but the judge granted a defence request to delay that until 17 February.
When the charges were brought in November, Michigan attorney general Bill Schuette said the case against Dr Nassar was the "tip of the iceberg".
Meanwhile, USA Gymnastics has announced it will conduct an independent review into its handling of sexual abuse cases.
In response to the Indy Star's latest report it issued the following statement: "Nothing is more important to USA Gymnastics, the board of directors and chief executive Steve Penny than protecting athletes, which requires sustained vigilance by everyone - coaches, athletes, parents, administrators and officials.
"We are saddened when any athlete has been harmed in the course of his or her gymnastics career."
Indy Star Journalist Mark Alesia told Sportshour that he believes more allegations of sexual abuse will surface.
He said: "There's a lot more to come out, we suspect, on how USA Gymnastics handles sexual abuse complaints.
"As part of our investigation we have learned that it was keeping files of sexual abuse complaints but not reporting them to authorities. If we get to those, we think there will be a lot more to report."


Renowned Italian film composer Ennio Morricone said he regrets saying "no" to Clint Eastwood.

The 86-year-old wrote the score to the 1960s trilogy of spaghetti Westerns by Sergio Leone, which saw Eastwood rise to fame.
But Morricone said he turned down the chance to write for films Eastwood directed "out of respect" to Leone.
"I missed a great opportunity and I am really sorry," he told the BBC's arts editor Will Gompertz.
Morricone, or Maestro, as he is known in his hometown of Rome, added: "When Clint called me, I said no out of respect to Sergio Leone, not because I did not like the movies that he did."
Although he had first met Sergio Leone when they were at school, it was not until 25 years later that their professional partnership began, on a Fistful of Dollars in 1964.
"Gradually over time, he as a director and me as a composer, we improved and reached our best, in my opinion, in Once Upon A Time In America," the composer said.
They went on to work together on Once Upon a Time in the West (1968) and Leone's last credited western, A Fistful of Dynamite (1971).
"After this relationship with Leone I was able to suggest to other directors how to respond to the music
"Often directors ask me for pieces lasting 20 seconds and in 20 seconds people do not understand - it is music that is wasted," he added.
Morricone, who will resume his European tour next year, said that being a composer is a "difficult profession" and he gets worried by every film he works on.
"There are ideas that crop up immediately but the majority arrive late.
"There is no film that has not worried me. I was worried for all of them, it is a difficult profession," the composer said.
Some of Morricone's most memorable scores include Roland Joffe's The Mission (1986), Giuseppe Tornatore's Cinema Paradiso (1988), and Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill (2003) and Inglourious Basterds (2009).
Over the years, the Italian Maestro has received 56 awards, including five Baftas, but missed out on Oscars for Days of Heaven (1979) and The Mission (1986).
In 2007, he was awarded an honorary Oscar, presented by Clint Eastwood, for "his magnificent and multifaceted contributions to the art of film music".
The Italian composer said that winning awards is a "celebration of the cinema".
"They are great to advertise the cinema, they are important for those who receive them but most of all for the cinema, it is a celebration of the cinema."
Despite working in an American-dominated industry, Morricone has never moved to Hollywood, remaining rooted in Rome, where he was born in 1928.
"I have been tempted. I was invited to live in Hollywood, I said no. I am better here," he said.
After a year of recovery from a spinal injury, Morricone's My Life in Music, World Tour will resume on 1 February 2015 in Amsterdam, stopping in 20 European cities.


Shares in Nintendo have fallen sharply after the Japanese gaming giant said Pokemon Go's success would have a limited impact on its profits.

Nintendo shares dropped by 17.7% after they more than doubled in value since the game's launch on 6 July.
Pokemon Go was developed by US firm Niantic and Nintendo said profits from licensing and fees would be limited.
However, even with the decline, Nintendo shares are still up 60% since the release of Pokemon Go on 6 July.
Overall, Japanese shares were little moved, with the Nikkei 225 finishing flat at 16,620.29.
Nintendo said the accounting scheme for recognising revenues from Pokemon Go meant its profits would not materially change.
The sharp drop was the biggest decline since October 1990, leaving the stock down by 5,000 yen - the maximum daily limit allowed.
The gaming company is due to report first-quarter results this week and said it did not plan to revise its earnings outlook for now.
"Taking the current situation into consideration, the company is not modifying the consolidated financial forecast for now," Nintendo said in a stock filing.
However, some analysts believe the market "overreacted" to the Nintendo statement.
"I believe that Pokemon Go will be material in the company's earnings, given the current trends for the game," David Gibson, a senior analyst at Macquarie Securities Group said.
In China, Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell slightly by 0.07% to close at 21,948.94 while the Shanghai Composite traded flat most of the day and closed at 2,019.81 points.
In South Korea, the benchmark Kospi was also flat, closing at 2,012.32.
Australia's ASX/200 rose by 0.6% to finish at 5,533.60 points.
Star performer was Woolworth, with an 8% boost, after the supermarket chain announced it would close stores and cut staff numbers.


The SNP will set out the timescale for a possible second referendum on independence in its manifesto for next year's Scottish Parliament election.

But First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she would only hold another referendum if she was confident she would win.
Opposition parties accused Ms Sturgeon of breaking her "once-in-a-generation" referendum promise.
Scots rejected independence by 55% to 45% in last year's referendum held on 18 September.
Since last year's result, the SNP has gained thousands of new members and won 56 of Scotland's 59 seats in May's general election.
Ms Sturgeon has come under increased pressure to clarify her position on a second vote ahead of the party's conference in Aberdeen next month.
She said: "Our manifesto will set out what we consider are the circumstances and the timescale on which a second referendum might be appropriate, but we can only propose.
"It's then for people in Scotland, whether it is in this election or in future elections, to decide whether they want to vote for our manifesto and then if there is in the future another independence referendum, whether that's in five years or 10 years or whenever, it will be down to the people of Scotland to decide whether they want to vote for independence or not.
"So at every single stage this is something that is driven by and decided by the people of Scotland, not by politicians."
ANALYSIS
By Glenn Campbell, BBC Scotland political correspondent
The SNP went into the last Holyrood election with a clear commitment to hold an independence referendum.
They said it would take place in the second half of the parliamentary term and it did on 18 September 2014.
Party leaders used to describe this as a "once in a generation" or even a "once in a lifetime" event. They no longer do.
They reserve the right to ask the independence question again much sooner than that.
As the referendum anniversary approaches, Nicola Sturgeon is promising to set out "the circumstances and the timescale" for a re-run in her 2016 Holyrood manifesto.
But don't expect the sort of unequivocal commitment the SNP gave in 2011.
Instead, expect scenarios that could trigger a ballot, such as a UK vote to leave the EU in which Scotland has voted to stay in.
In any event, Ms Sturgeon does not want to hold another referendum unless she is sure of winning.
Read more from Glenn
Ms Sturgeon has previously said a material change in circumstances, such as Scotland being taken out of the EU against its will in the forthcoming in-out referendum on UK membership, could act as a trigger for a second referendum on independence.
She said: "Ironically, given the scaremongering about our European Union membership during the independence referendum, if we find ourselves being taken out of Europe against our will I think it is beyond any doubt that people will at least want to consider again the question of independence."
She added: "I've always believed that Scotland will become an independent country so there's no change in position there. I think that's the direction of travel we're on. But that's my opinion, I'm one person, one politician.
"Whether I end up being proved right or wrong will be down to what the majority of people in Scotland decide."
Ms Sturgeon has also revealed in an STV documentary that she would only hold another referendum once she was satisfied "there is support in Scotland for independence that means that referendum is going to be successful".
She said: "I don't ever want to feel what I felt in the early hours of 19 September.
"Immediately afterwards, the mood was one of utter devastation and I felt that personally. We were all grief-stricken."
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said: "Nicola Sturgeon has now made it clear that she wants to take Scotland back to another referendum, with all the uncertainty and division that entails.
"This is despite the fact that only last year she promised Scots that last year's referendum would be once in a generation.
"Most people in Scotland want to put last year's referendum behind them and get on with life. Despite her own promises, it is now clear that Nicola Sturgeon wants to take Scotland back to a neverendum."
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said: "People who regretted the divisive nature of the referendum and thought that democracy counted will be disappointed that Nicola Sturgeon is putting another referendum as a priority in her manifesto.
"A year after she promised us that it would be a once-in-a-lifetime event she is now putting her party first before the country by plunging us into another protracted campaign for independence.
"With the police in crisis, the NHS in difficulty and educational standards slipping, we need a government focused on the challenges in our daily lives rather than their own political ideology."
Labour's Shadow Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said: "While Labour is facing the future with new leaders who have an overwhelming mandate for change, the SNP are stuck in the arguments of the past.
"The SNP want the next election to be about the past arguments on independence because they can't defend their record in government."
Also in the STV documentary, Labour's Alistair Darling, who led the Better Together campaign, criticised the Nationalists for perpetuating the divisions that emerged during the referendum campaign.
"Evel is a piece of nonsense and it should be rejected," he said. "It doesn't work and will never work... we need to get it right... otherwise the consequences will be fatal."
He added: "I have never come across some of the divisions (seen during the referendum), amongst friends, amongst family, people saying things to each other that I would have thought unbelievable."


A late goal from substitute Adam Rooney booked Aberdeen's place in the semi-final of the Scottish League Cup at the expense of St Johnstone at Pittodrie.

Kenny McLean passed up the hosts' best chance earlier when he volleyed over.
Saints' David Wotherspoon had a goal ruled out for offside, before his free-kick late on was pushed onto the bar by Dons goalkeeper Joe Lewis.
That proved crucial as Graeme Shinnie crossed for Rooney to head home in the final minute of normal time.
When a manager can call upon a player with the goal-scoring prowess of Rooney from the bench, it must surely give him confidence that goals will eventually come their way.
From the moment Rooney replaced Jayden Stockley in the 73rd minute, it was evident the striker did not fancy playing an additional 30 minutes against St Johnstone.
That said, his one and only chance came in the 90th minute. When the ball left the right foot of Shinnie from the left flank, heading towards the Saints' six-yard box, it was clear Rooney fancied his chances
His footwork and movement in evading the attention of Saints defenders was textbook and should be a lesson to youngsters up and down the country as to how to put the ball in the back of the net.
The impact James Maddison has made in his short time at Pittodrie is extremely impressive. The teenager tormented St Johnstone midfielder Murray Davidson throughout the night with a flurry of touches that at times were embarrassing for the Saints player.
At 19, his touch on the ball was immense and his game awareness was a delight to watch.
His loan spell from Norwich City is only until January, but Dons fans can be reassured boss Derek McInnes will be looking to extend that until the end of the season.
They say that penalties are a tough way to lose a game but this tie took a massive twist with just seconds remaining on the clock.
Had Dons keeper Joe Lewis not made a magnificent save from Wotherspoon's free-kick, it would probably have been Saints taking on Morton for a place in the Betfred Cup final.
But St Johnstone boss Tommy Wright is more than capable of picking his players up for Sunday's Premiership match against Hamilton.
The wily old fox will use all his years of experience to ensure the disappointment of a last-minute defeat does not linger on in the McDiarmid Park dressing room.
It will hurt but they will bounce back.
Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes: "It was a proper cup tie. No quarter given, both teams showing real determination, fighting for every inch. There was very few opportunities for both sides in the game. Both teams defended very well and you just got the feeling one goal was going to win it.
"I was delighted with the impact of the subs again, it was the same on Sunday at Dens. [Peter] Pawlett and Rooney came on and gave us a different dynamic, and typical Adam, he only needs half a chance.
"His movement was really bright. He got half a yard on [Steven] Anderson but he still had to guide it into the far corner."
St Johnstone's Tommy Wright: "We are extremely disappointed. I thought it was going to extra time. I wouldn't say the players did everything asked of them, because if we had done a bit more with the ball, we might have won the game.
"Zander [Clark] didn't have a save to make even thought they had pressure. We probably had the clearest chance with David Wotherspoon - the linesman put his flag up very late - and Joe Lewis made an incredible save from David. I am proud at how we stayed in the game, but we can pass the ball better than that."
Asked about an incident in the tunnel after the game, Wright said: "There was a bit of shouting and balling and yelling. Aberdeen have a right to celebrate but they left the dressing room door open and the music was deafening. Our players were a bit upset and one of them shut the door. But there was nothing in it."
Match ends, Aberdeen 1, St. Johnstone 0.
Second Half ends, Aberdeen 1, St. Johnstone 0.
Attempt saved. Niall McGinn (Aberdeen) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Substitution, St. Johnstone. Christopher Kane replaces Paul Paton.
Substitution, Aberdeen. Mark Reynolds replaces James Maddison.
Goal!  Aberdeen 1, St. Johnstone 0. Adam Rooney (Aberdeen) header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Graeme Shinnie with a cross.
Attempt saved. David Wotherspoon (St. Johnstone) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner.
Foul by Andrew Considine (Aberdeen).
David Wotherspoon (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Peter Pawlett (Aberdeen).
Paul Paton (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt saved. James Maddison (Aberdeen) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner.
Niall McGinn (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Liam Gordon (St. Johnstone).
Murray Davidson (St. Johnstone) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
James Maddison (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Murray Davidson (St. Johnstone).
Substitution, St. Johnstone. Liam Craig replaces Danny Swanson because of an injury.
Substitution, Aberdeen. Adam Rooney replaces Jayden Stockley.
Substitution, Aberdeen. Peter Pawlett replaces Wes Burns.
Corner,  Aberdeen. Conceded by Paul Paton.
Danny Swanson (St. Johnstone) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Wes Burns (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Danny Swanson (St. Johnstone).
Foul by Shaleum Logan (Aberdeen).
Brian Easton (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Kenny McLean (Aberdeen) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right following a corner.
Corner,  Aberdeen. Conceded by Brian Easton.
Michael Coulson (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Andrew Considine (Aberdeen).
Graeme Shinnie (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by David Wotherspoon (St. Johnstone).
Attempt missed. Danny Swanson (St. Johnstone) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.
Paul Paton (St. Johnstone) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Graeme Shinnie (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Paul Paton (St. Johnstone).
Substitution, St. Johnstone. Michael Coulson replaces Joe Gormley because of an injury.
Attempt missed. Danny Swanson (St. Johnstone) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Graeme Shinnie (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Murray Davidson (St. Johnstone).


Former Aberdeen goalkeeper Jamie Langfield has joined St Mirren as a player-coach on a two-year deal.

The 35-year-old left Pittodrie this week after 10 years with the Dons.
"To come to my hometown club is that bit special," Langfield told the Paisley club's website.
"The gaffer made it clear that he wanted me to come in as a coach and use my experience but obviously I said I'm not just here to sit on the bench and make up the numbers and retire."
Langfield, who also played for Dundee and Partick Thistle, made 335 appearances for Aberdeen and was given a testimonial match last month.
"He's going to be a goalkeeper who will compete with Mark [Ridgers] for the jersey now and also the goalkeeping coach, which is great for us all because we needed someone in to help Mark predominantly in that role and someone who will push Mark for a starting position," said Buddies boss Ian Murray.
"Mark will realise that he needs to be pushed and it's always good to have other options.
"Mark's attitude in the whole process has been fantastic, we understand he's not had a lot of specialised goalkeeping coaching and that's what he needs.
"Jamie's at an age where he's maybe got one eye on the coaching role and certainly improving a younger goalkeeper in Mark as well. Hopefully they can work hand-in-hand together and help each other throughout the season and hopefully be behind a defence that doesn't concede many goals."


A man employed by a nursery has been arrested on suspicion of possessing and distributing indecent images of children.

The BBC understands the alleged offences are not connected to Mama Bears Day Nursery in south Devon where he was employed.
The man, 43, from Paignton, has resigned from his position, Devon and Cornwall Police said.
He has been released on bail until 5 May.
A spokesman for the nursery said: "An ex-employee from our Queen Elizabeth Road and Long Road nurseries has been arrested in conjunction with downloading indecent images of children... There is currently no evidence to link these images to the nursery.
"We always take the safeguarding of our children very seriously."
A spokesman for South Devon College, where the nursery is based, said Mama Bears was a separate facility.


It's the story line that's kept us gripped for more than a year, but EastEnders bosses have finally confirmed the exact date we'll find out who killed Lucy Beale.

On Thursday 19 February the mystery will be solved - as part of EastEnders' 30th anniversary week.
A video was put up on Twitter after the dramatic New Year's Day episode, which kept everyone guessing about who the killer might be.
The revelation will be one of the birthday week highlights, which kicks off from Monday 16 February.
On New Year's Day former police officer, Emma Summerhayes, was about to reveal who Lucy's killer was when she was knocked down by Roxy Mitchell and rushed to hospital.
Emma was texting the killer when she was hit.
"But that doesn't change anything it's still murder," she said, earlier in the episode.
One half of the Beale twins, Lucy had a short but eventful life.
She's been held hostage, mugged, run away from home and made life as difficult as possible for her dad Ian Beale's various love interests.
Her body was found on Walford Common on Good Friday.
Suspects have included Lucy's lover Max and her new boyfriend Lee Carter, but it won't be long before we'll find out for sure.
Brithday celebrations will include a 30-minute live episode and there will also be a series of live elements in all the episodes that week.
Charlotte Moore, Controller of BBC One says: "It will bring the nation together to celebrate 30 years of EastEnders by going live across the anniversary week."
"It will mark a massive event by creating the ultimate 'doof doof' and finally reveal who killed Lucy Beale," she added.
Follow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube


The Scottish Government has published a bill outlining provisional plans for another referendum on Scottish independence, plans which some believe coincide with a renewed sense of Scotland's separate identity.

There are pubs where they play music and then there are pubs where music takes a more prominent role. Sometimes, however, there are pubs where drinking seems almost a sideline to the main business of musical appreciation.
Walking into Sandy Bell's in Edinburgh, you feel it sits very firmly in the latter category. Long a focus for the Scottish traditional music scene, recent years have seen more performances, bigger audiences and some very talented players. And as far as many are concerned, that tells you something about Scotland today.
"There's more pride in Scotland generally," says Archie, a smiling accordion player from Skye. "You'll get pubs that used to be trendy pubs, with CDs playing, and now they have folk music sessions."
For Sam, who plays violin, it's a particular source of pride that so many visitors from abroad now seem captivated by the melodies of her native land.
"You've got tourists from Canada, Australia, America, Japan, China. I've always liked this sort of music. It does make me feel like I'm celebrating being Scottish."
In a week when Scotland's First Minister unveiled plans for a possible second referendum on independence, the strength of nationalist sentiment has usually been gauged by polls.
And much to the frustration of Ms Sturgeon's Scottish National Party, support for independence has barely budged from the 45% who voted for it in the previous referendum of 2014.
Yet many believe that Scots now have a far stronger sense of their country's distinct identity, a sentiment that polls seem to miss.
Among them is Henry McLeish, the Labour First Minister of Scotland from 2001-02, who extols what he believes are Scotland's particular qualities.
"We're more internationalist, we're more open to immigration," he says.
It is the Brexit vote and its aftermath that has done more than anything else to shift his opinion. The majority of Scots voted to remain in the European Union, in contrast to the UK vote to leave.
"I was a diehard unionist. Politics has changed, I've had my Britishness squeezed out of me. It's more in sorrow than in anger that I am ready to say that I could support an independent Scotland."
Michelle Ferguson is not sorry about her increasingly strong sense of being Scottish, but it has come as something of a surprise.
Once an employee of a large multinational, she used to live in London and described herself as British. But Michelle has now become managing director of a social enterprise, St Andrews First Aid Supplies and Training, which ploughs all its profits back into the local community.
The experience seems to have changed her sense of identity, as much as her attitude to business.
"Here in Scotland, people really want to make a difference, it's not all about the big bucks," she says. "I now feel that if I had to fill in a form… I would have to say I am Scottish."
Michelle does not want to say whether she voted for Scottish independence, nor whether she would do so in the event of another referendum. And the fact is that whatever resurgence of Scottish pride there may be, the Scottish National Party has so far failed to capitalise on it.
But then the Party has always been keen to emphasise the alleged economic benefits of independence, rather than playing the identity game and appealing to voters' "tartan blood".
"A vote for independence should not just be about how we feel, although that is important," says Ben Macpherson, an SNP Member of the Scottish Parliament, representing Edinburgh North and Leith.
Yet pushed on the issue, Macpherson agrees with the suggestion of growing national self-awareness, and hints that it might help his cause.
"Scotland is an increasingly more confident country than when I was a child. More and more, Scotland is starting to understand that Scotland is ready to govern itself."


Plans for a controversial cycle path through Edinburgh have been agreed in principle by city councillors.

But the council is to set up a group to "resolve outstanding design issues".
The proposed cycle route will link Leith Walk in the east of the city to Roseburn in the west, via the city centre and Haymarket.
The plans include reducing four lanes of traffic from Roseburn to Haymarket to two, and using half a carriageway and a bus lane for cyclists.
Supporters of the path said it was vital for cutting congestion and would provide a safe route across the city. They said it would also encourage more active travel.
But residents and shop owners in the Roseburn area said reducing loading bays to make way for bikes would have a huge impact on passing trade, and that reducing traffic lanes could increase congestion at Roseburn.
The council said the new working group would be set up to help resolve outstanding design issues with the plans.
It said work would start immediately to secure further funding and to "make preparations to commence the necessary statutory processes for the scheme".
A final decision will be taken after the the working group's discussions.
Transport convener Councillor Lesley Hinds said the council was still "100% committed" to the project but acknowledged it had divided opinion.
She said a new group would be formed to try to reach a conclusion on the final route design "which the majority are happy with".
Ms Hinds added: "Given the strength of feeling out there about certain aspects of the plans, there's clearly still work to be done before the final route design is agreed."


US drugs giant Pfizer has withdrawn its £55 a share, £69bn takeover bid for UK pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca.

It said: "Following the AstraZeneca board's rejection of the proposal, Pfizer announces that it does not intend to make an offer."
AstraZeneca's chairman, Leif Johansson, said it would "continue building on the momentum we have already demonstrated as an independent company."
AstraZeneca had fiercely resisted the bid, backed by some politicians.
It rejected a final offer from Pfizer earlier this month, saying the proposal undervalued the company and its "attractive prospects".
Nevertheless, in recent weeks some AstraZeneca shareholders had said they wanted the firm to engage with Pfizer.
But Mr Johansson said: "We have attractive growth prospects and a rapidly progressing pipeline. In the coming months we anticipate positive news flow across our core therapeutic areas, which underpins our confidence in the long-term prospects of the business."
Pfizer had until Monday evening to make any further move under a strict timetable allowed for takeovers of public companies.
These same rules mean Pfizer must now wait six months before making a fresh bid for AstraZeneca, unless invited to do so by the company.
By then AstraZeneca shareholders believe the US government will have gone a long way to closing the tax loophole which was one of the reasons for Pfizer being so attracted to AstraZeneca.
However, if AstraZeneca's board has a complete change of mind about the offer it could invite Pfizer to talks in three months' time.
The Unite union said that the company's independence was not secure and the government should act to protect certain businesses: "We expect that there will be renewed pressure on shareholders over the coming months with the likelihood that Pfizer could be back in its attempts to take over AstraZeneca.
"The government needs to use this time to intervene and put a public interest test in place for proposed takeovers of this size, just as other governments do, such as the French which has strengthened its powers to act to protect strategic industries."
Pfizer encountered opposition to its bid on a number of fronts.
Its chairman, Ian Read, spent two days being questioned by MPs on both the Commons Business Select Committee and the Science Committee, as well as doing the rounds to win over major shareholders.
He gave a five-year pledge on UK jobs and facilities, promising to complete an AstraZeneca research centre in Cambridge and keep a factory in Macclesfield, Cheshire.
The president of the Royal Society, Professor Sir Paul Nurse - one of Britain's most prominent scientists - said Pfizer's commitments to maintain research and jobs should it take over AstraZeneca were "vague" and insufficient.
Labour Party leader Ed Miliband said assurances given by Pfizer about safeguarding research and preserving jobs at AstraZeneca were "worthless".
Prime Minister David Cameron said he was "neutral" about the proposed bid.
However, investors including BlackRock, Legal & General, Axa and Schroders made it clear that they wanted the company to engage with Pfizer, although other leading investment groups were against a bid at the price offered.
Many view the price per share offered as a few pounds too low; a figure of above £58 may have been enough to get the bid agreed by shareholders.


Goats are being used to encourage people to exercise their democratic right in this month's EU referendum.

Facebook users who click on a gif of a cute kid are taken to a website which states: "If you've got time to watch a goat gif you've got 2 minutes to register to vote."
A clock counts down the remaining time left to vote, while goats frolic in the background.
At the time of writing, the goat gif had been shared more than 40,000 times on social media.
Ben Silvertown, one of the gifgoat.party creators, explained how the idea originated: "For many young people, Facebook is a place for friends, fun posts and informal content. For that reason, political posts never gain much traction.
"People love gifs, tricking their friends and posting for a good cause, so we thought that gifgoat.party would be the perfect vehicle to remind people to register."
And is it working? Mr Silverton thinks so.
"It's appeared on over 2.5 million people's newsfeeds and has driven over nine thousand people to the Gov.uk website to register," he said. "We've had some great reactions."
Including these.
And why goats? "What's cute, funny and rhymes with votes?"
Voters in the UK have until 23:59 BST on Tuesday June 7 to register to vote in the referendum.
Compiled by Paul Harrison, BBC Social News and UGC team


Ireland opened their Women's Six Nations campaign with a hard-fought victory over Scotland thanks to a last-gasp try from Jenny Murphy.

Media playback is not supported on this device
With the clock red, Murphy crashed through under the posts to punish the hosts, who had been on top.
The Scots, without a tournament win since 2010, led 15-10 at half-time thanks to two Jade Konkel tries.
Sene Naoupu, Alison Miller and Lindsay Peat also touched down as the visitors earned a bonus point.
Scotland also pick up a bonus point following a hugely improved display but will be bitterly disappointed not to have ended their long losing streak in this competition.
Sarah Law and Helen Nelson both missed straightforward kicks and much of the second half was played in Irish territory.
Scotland were ahead inside five minutes when Louise McMillan broke clear and was held at the line, with player-of-the-match Konkel forcing her way over for the opening try which was converted by Law.
Ireland responded immediately, hemming the hosts in their 22 and Naoupu ploughed in at the corner after Scotland coughed up possession.
With the Scots toiling in the scrum, Irish captain Paula Fitzpatrick fumbled what should have been a simple score but Miller soon added a second score with the home defence stretched.
Konkel, Scotland's only full-time player, again powered her way through a gap from close range, with Law this time pushing the conversion from right in front of the posts wide, only to make amends with a sweetly-struck penalty soon after.
Scotland were down to 14 early in the second half, with Lindsey Smith guilty of a line-out tackle in the air, and Ireland took advantage when Peat raced in to score.
For the third time, Nora Stapleton failed to convert from a difficult angle.
Scotland then put together some impressive sequences, with replacement scrum-half Jenny Maxwell injecting fresh pace in the Cumbernauld rain.
Two great breaks, from Lisa Thomson and Chloe Rollie, cut the Irish defence to ribbons but the hosts could not capitalise on their pressure, with Law and Nelson failing to land penalties.
With the clock into 79 minutes, Ireland kicked a penalty into the corner and kept their composure from the line-out, despite being held up on the line a couple of times, for Murphy to break Scottish hearts, with Stapleton adding the extras.
Scotland: Chloe Rollie, Megan Gaffney, Lisa Thomson, Lisa Martin (capt), Rhona Lloyd, Helen Nelson, Sarah Law; Tracey Balmer, Rachel Malcolm, Lindsey Smith, Emma Wassell, Deborah McCormack, Karen Dunbar, Louise McMillan, Jade Konkel.
Replacements: Lucy Park, Heather Lockhart, Katie Dougan, Sarah Bonar, Jemma Forsyth, Jenny Maxwell, Lauren Harris, Eilidh Sinclair.
Ireland: Mairead Coyne; Niamh Kavanagh, Jenny Murphy, Sene Naoupu, Alison Miller; Nora Stapleton, Ailsa Hughes; Lindsay Peat, Leah Lyons, Ailis Egan, Orla Fitzsimons, Marie Louise Reilly, Ciara Griffin, Claire Molloy, Paula Fitzpatrick (capt).
Replacements: Jennie Finlay, Ilse van Staden, Ciara O'Connor, Elaine Anthony, Nichola Fryday, Mary Healy, Claire McLaughlin, Eimear Considine.
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa)
Assistant Referees: Beatrice Benvenuti (Italy) Graham Cooper (Australia)
Television Match Official: Jon Mason (Wales)


A mother has described the "terrifying" moment a cyclist smashed her car window spraying glass over her three-month-old son in an alleged act of road rage.

Rhiannon Gautama was travelling in a car along Croydon Road in south London during Monday morning rush-hour.
She said a cyclist thumped the car roof as he passed and when the car overtook him she leaned out of the window and told him to be more considerate.
Moments later, the cyclist caught up with the car and smashed the window.
"It was terrifying," Miss Gautama said.
She had been supervising her partner Barnaby Reardon, 33, who is a learner driver, as he drove to work.
Their son Jasper was in the back seat.
Miss Gautama said: "My partner saw the cyclist get his bicycle lock and smash the car window that shattered all over the inside of the car.
"I was in complete shock. I checked on Jasper to make sure he was ok, then I called the police straight away.
"Jasper was asleep the whole time but when I took him out of his car seat there was all this glass falling out of the seat everywhere, but he was just smiling.
"I guess, in hindsight the cyclist may have thought we were too far on his side of the road and there wasn't enough room to get past us, but he still managed to cycle past us.
"When we caught up with him I leaned out of the window and said: 'Have some consideration, we've got 'L' plates on and a baby in the back'.
"Then we hit more traffic and I turned to my partner and said, 'he's going to catch up with us,' but I had no idea he was going to smash the window."
Jasper was uninjured but the family was deeply shaken by the experience.
"I think I will never say anything again, you just don't know who you are speaking to," she added.
The Met said it was investigating but no arrests have been made yet.
Miss Gautama said the cyclist had long blonde hair worn in a pony tail and was wearing a bright yellow jacket, see-through cycling glasses and black cycling shorts.


Hull KR full-back Ben Cockayne says the Million Pound Game is "a disgrace" which hurts the Rugby Football League's efforts to promote good mental health.

Rovers play Salford on Saturday as both teams attempt to retain their Super League status for 2017.
Players on the losing side will automatically have their Super League contracts voided after the game.
"On Sunday there will be a group of people without a job, that's the top and bottom of it," Cockayne, 33, said.
"At the end of the game there's nothing to celebrate because, if you're on the winning side, you're faced with a bunch of people that you respect who you play a tough sport against numerous times a season who will be out of a job.
"Or if you're on the losing side, you're out of a job yourself."
Then-Bradford Bulls head coach James Lowes threatened to quit rugby league after losing the inaugural Million Pound Game in 2015, while Wakefield players also expressed concerns about contracts in the build-up.
Cockayne continued: "We're not on footballers' wages where we can pay a mortgage off in a couple of weeks.
"We're talking about promoting mental health in our game but this does nothing for that.
"There'll be some lucky enough to keep their jobs and their salaries, and a group of people who will either lose it, or get their salary chopped or see their family in all sorts of trouble."


The number of motorcyclists killed or injured on roads in Wales has risen for the fourth year in a row and is at a seven-year high, official figures show.

Incidents recorded by the police reveal 28 people died in 2014, up from 17 in 2013 - but the figure is only slightly higher than the previous three years.
The total number of those killed, seriously or slightly injured in 2014 was 749 - the highest for seven years.
Road safety campaigners called the figures "disappointing".
Dave Nichols, spokesman for road safety charity Brake, said: "Every road casualty causes appalling suffering, and every one can be prevented, but only if we make the right moves.
"Everyone who uses the road has a responsibility to look out for each other, whether a rider or driver, and make sure we slow down and keep well within the limits.
"Politicians can also play their part by lowering the default speed limit on country roads from 60 to 50mph, and even lower where there are particular risks."
The Welsh government said it was committed to improving road safety and had awarded nearly Â£4m to 30 road safety improvement schemes in 14 local authority areas.
It has also given Â£180,000 to help motorcyclists improve their skills.
A spokesman added: "Our road safety framework identifies measures to protect the most high risk and vulnerable road users, however, everyone has a part to play and needs to take some responsibility."
Chris Hume, of Wales' road casualty reduction partnership GoSafe, said: "The continuing overall drop in fatal and serious injuries across all road user types is encouraging.
"However, with regard to motorcyclists in particular, we want them to enjoy the roads but most of all we want them to ride safely and responsibly."
On Monday, the three Welsh fire services launched a joint road safety strategy,â€‹ which set out how they will support the Welsh government to cut road deaths and injuries.
Chief fire officer for Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Chris Davies, said motorcyclists accounted for 37% of those killed or seriously injured on the roads.
That is despite making up just 1% of road traffic in Wales.
He said: "Motorcyclists are not necessarily at fault for collisions, their vulnerability means that they are far more likely to be killed or seriously injured."
Motorcycle deaths made up 22% of those killed or seriously hurt in Wales
Swansea and Powys local authority areas had the most casualties, while Blaenau Gwent, Merthyr and Anglesey had the fewest
Since 2004, about 90% of the casualties have been men
Since 1998, casualties aged over 30 has exceeded the number under 30


Up to 139 jobs could go at University of South Wales as it tries to balance rising costs with an anticipated reduction in students due to Brexit.

Staff across all departments in Treforest, Newport and Cardiff are affected by the proposed redundancies.
The cuts represent a 4.6% cut in the 3,005 workforce at Wales' second biggest university.
The university said the cuts were necessary because its costs were rising but its income was remaining the same.
The university is not giving a breakdown of how many staff in each area will be affected.
The university's student recruitment from European Union countries is above average for UK universities and it expects overseas recruitment to fall following the UK's decision to leave the EU.
A university spokesman said USW was "sustainable and financially sound".
Part of USW vice-chancellor Julie Lydon's email to all university staff
"Perceptions matter. The majority of people in our country do not see international students as immigrants, but even before Brexit the UK had a problem in the impression being given to them.
"This remains an issue for debate, not least at the highest levels of government. As USW, and in concert with our fellow universities, we will continue to press for the real benefit that international students bring to be recognised, harnessed, and grown.
"For us, Brexit brings opportunities and it brings uncertainty. Before the vote we were already seeking to develop further in an unprecedentedly volatile environment.
"You will know that the domestic student market for 'home' students is shrinking: a number of factors are at play including demographic reductions in 18-year-olds and a changing UK jobs market.
"You'll also be aware that our competition has never been fiercer.
"We have never been a university that is content to stand still and unchanged, and as well as making sure we're right as an organisation we will need every ounce of enterprise to develop new opportunities at home and overseas."
The university spokesman added: "Although we've broadly maintained our UK student numbers, we're in a market where the overall number of people going to university is reducing, and recruitment from overseas will be affected by Brexit.
"Like many universities, our costs are rising by over 3% a year while our income is staying the same.
"It means we can't preserve structures and staff headcount in aspic because, if we did this, the university would, over time, lose its stable financial position."
USW was formed from a merger of University of Glamorgan and University of Wales Newport in 2013, prompting job concerns by union leaders.
The university said it was consulting with unions and managers and voluntary redundancies would be considered.
USW group Unison branch secretary Dan Beard said: "The union will robustly defend our members' interests and will be consulting them once the full facts of the proposals are disclosed to consider the next steps that may be necessary."


Everton's last-minute equaliser against West Ham in the FA Cup does not mask the big problems facing Toffees boss Roberto Martinez right now.

In his regular BBC Sport column, Robbie Savage looks at Everton's problems in defence and attack and explains what Toffees boss Roberto Martinez can do to turn things around.
His side are awful at the back and look very low on confidence.
And his tweaks to their playing style have stopped them from getting the best out of their £28m striker Romelu Lukaku when they attack.
I do not believe Martinez's job is under threat or that they are relegation candidates, despite them losing all four Premier League games over Christmas and New Year and being nearer the bottom three than the top four.
The real worry for Toffees fans should be what this slump means for the club's long-term future.
Everton have some terrific young talent like Ross Barkley and Seamus Coleman, who should be the nucleus of their team for years to come.
If Martinez cannot turn things around, then those players will soon be asking whether Goodison Park is still the right place for them.
If you listen to Martinez, you would think that his side's run of one win in their last 10 games with no clean sheets is just down to bad luck
The way they forced a replay against West Ham on Tuesday showed there is fight in this Everton team, but they still looked very vulnerable.
It is strange that the Toffees had such a good defensive record last season, Martinez's first in charge.
They conceded only 39 Premier League goals - fewer than in any of his predecessor David Moyes' final four years as manager.
What has happened this time around suggests that was down to the legacy left by Moyes, rather than any influence from Martinez.
When he has tried to change things in his back-line, things have gone badly - for example when he played holding midfielder Gareth Barry as one of three centre-halves in their 2-0 defeat against Hull on New Year's Day.
Barry has made his living out of breaking things up in front of the back four, and been fantastic at it.
But he has got no pace and there is no way he should be last man as the deepest centre-half, which he was for both of Hull's goals.
Also at the back, I have not been convinced at all by Antolin Alcaraz. He played under Martinez at Wigan when the Latics conceded a lot of goals, and does not seem to have improved.
Otherwise, Martinez has been relying on the same centre-halves that were at Everton when he took charge in the summer of 2013.
With John Stones struggling with injury for much of the season so far, Martinez has again had to use the Phil Jagielka-Sylvain Distin partnership that has served Everton so well since 2009.
But they are another year older, and it shows. Their record when Distin, in particular, is playing has dipped dramatically, and he is starting to look every one of his 37 years.
If you listen to Martinez, you would think that his side's run of one win in their last 10 games with no clean sheets is just down to bad luck and decisions going against them.
Yes, they have had some injuries to contend with but you cannot tell me that it is just down to misfortune that they have conceded 33 goals in their first 20 league games.
That record is comparable with the 35 goals Wigan had conceded at the same stage when they were relegated under Martinez in 2013.
And the statistic that seems to sum both of those sides up is how often they see individual errors leading to goals.
Wigan saw 17 mistakes punished that season, more than any other team.
Everton, with 11 so far, are also now top of that particular table, not only in the Premier League but in any of the top divisions in Europe's five major leagues - England, Spain, Italy, Germany and France.
Those errors mean Everton are a bag of nerves and it is affecting them when they attack too.
When I looked at the Toffees in one of my BBC columns last season, they were well balanced and set up perfectly to get the best out of Romelu Lukaku. That is no longer the case.
While they used to get the ball up to him quickly, and use both full-backs to deliver balls into the box, now they mess about with it too much because they do not want to give it away.
Martinez is probably pleased that his side have had more possession than last season and play more passes per match, with improved accuracy.
But, far from helping them, it is stopping them from giving the big Belgian the service he needs.
He showed against the Hammers, with his equaliser and also his disallowed goal, what he can do with crosses into the area. There have not been enough of them, though.
In the 2013-14 season, Everton played the seventh-most crosses into the opposition area, including corners (an average of 22.3 per game).
So far this season, they have had the fewest (16.9 per game) of any top-flight team. That is staggering when you consider how effective Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman are with their deliveries from open play.
Lukaku is getting stick from fans because, when a club like Everton pay £28m for a player, they have to be a big success.
Yes, he has found goals harder to come by this season - scoring a league goal every 256.5 minutes this campaign compared to every 170 minutes when he was on loan from Chelsea - but it is not all his fault.
Go on any Everton internet fans forum and they seem to be split on whether he is a lazy carthorse who is not worth the money, or a potential superstar who just needs to be fed the right passes.
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It is definitely the latter for me, although he does need to adapt his game.
At the moment he seems to be thinking he has to do it all on his own - he likes the ball at his feet when he is running at defenders but he shoots from outside the box too often, when he should be laying the ball off and looking to get into the box.
He needs to do that more because that is where the goals will come from, but he will only do it if he knows there will be balls coming in for him to get on the end of.
When Martinez changed Everton's style in his first season, to make them play more expansive and attractive football than under Moyes, it worked brilliantly.
His latest tweak is not working out, though, and it is time Martinez showed there is another side to his approach.
I do not doubt his teams can defend and win while playing good football, because they did a lot that last season.
But now he needs to show they can defend and win when they are not playing well. So far, that has not happened.
In a way Martinez actually needs to be more like Moyes was, and find a way of grinding out results, starting against Manchester City on Saturday.
He needs his team to get their belief back, but the first thing they need to be is hard to beat again.
Robbie Savage was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan


Ronnie O'Sullivan said he felt "under the most extreme pressure" before winning a record seventh Masters title.

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The Englishman, 41, had been level with Stephen Hendry on six titles, but moved ahead after coming from 4-1 behind to beat Joe Perry 10-7 in the final.
"I am a competitor and I needed to fight until the end," he added.
O'Sullivan also said he was "not really into records or the history side of stuff" and the only downside to winning was he did not get to keep the trophy.
'The Rocket' had to repair a broken cue tip during his semi-final against Marco Fu on Saturday, and bit the tip off following his victory over Perry.
"Yesterday it played fantastic, today I couldn't do a lot with it, but I managed to hold it together under extreme pressure," he said.
"I have never felt so vulnerable because I couldn't play three quarters of the shots I wanted to so I had to hang in there and I'm proud that I was able to do that in such a major tournament."
O'Sullivan has won five World and five UK Championship titles to go alongside his Masters victories.
It means he is just one behind Hendry's haul of 18 triumphs in Triple Crown events - the Masters, World Championship and UK Championship - and is hungry for more success.
"I don't want to stop at seven but to keep enjoying playing," said O'Sullivan. "I am one for enjoying the sport I have played for a long time.
"Records are there to be broken, but I am not into this records thing. I am more into the love of the game, competing and if I break a few records on the way then fantastic. That is what I have done all my life."
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The Essex player became the first person to win the Paul Hunter Trophy, which was named after the three-time champion who died of cancer aged 27 in 2006.
I just love trophies, especially a beautiful trophy like that
However, O'Sullivan pleaded with the sport's governing body to allow him to keep the trophy for good.
"When growing up, I was not interested in the money, I was just into the trophies," he said.
"World Snooker need to give me a little replica, which I can put on my mantelpiece because looking at trophies is what I enjoy. It motivates you to win more. I just love trophies, especially a beautiful trophy like that."
Fellow Englishman Perry was appearing in his first final of a Triple Crown event at the age of 42. He had won just one ranking title in his career and was runner-up on three other occasions.
Having taken the lead in the match, a missed final red down the cushion in the sixth frame was "a turning point".
Cambridgeshire-born Perry added: "I wasn't happy with how I handled the situation from 4-1 up, I was not composed enough and let him back into the session.
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"It is different playing Ronnie, especially out there. You put him tight behind the yellow ball and the crowd scream 'come on Ronnie'.
"You can't go anywhere and it is a cauldron out there. You have to handle it. I did for the most part but lost my way."
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US President Donald Trump has accepted an invitation to attend this year's Bastille Day celebrations in France.

Mr Trump will join the 14 July annual military parade in Paris, which this year marks the 100th anniversary of the entry of the US into World War One.
His relationship with President Emmanuel Macron has had a rocky start.
Mr Macron has sharply criticised Mr Trump over climate change and said their handshake when they met in Brussels last month was "not innocent".
Mr Trump's acceptance also comes amid confusion over whether he will take up his state visit to the UK.
Mr Macron's office confirmed in a statement that Mr Trump had accepted the invitation, while the White House said President Trump looked forward "to reaffirming America's strong ties of friendship with France".
"The two leaders will further build on the strong counter-terrorism co-operation and economic partnership between the two countries, and they will discuss many other issues of mutual concern," the White House statement said.
The pair have not exactly seen eye to eye since Mr Macron was elected.
The French president has severely criticised Mr Trump's decision to pull out of the Paris climate accord.
He commandeered Mr Trump's election phrase "make America great again", turning it into "make the planet great again", doing so in one video alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger.
When the two leaders met for the first time on 25 May in Brussels, ahead of a Nato summit, the meeting was notable for the handshake between the two men.
The awkward encounter saw each grip the other's hand so firmly that their knuckles turned white.
The vigorous embrace continued for several seconds as Mr Macron and Mr Trump looked each other fixedly in the eye until the US president attempted to disengage.
Mr Macron later said the handshake was "not innocent".
Bastille Day marks the date in 1789 when a mob stormed the prison on the site in Paris, helping to start the French Revolution.
This year's Bastille Day will also carry a sombre note.
Last year, at least 84 people were killed, including more than 10 children, when a lorry slammed through a crowd as they celebrated in the southern French city of Nice.
Mr Trump's acceptance of the French invitation comes as his UK visit remains in the air.
Last week, there was no mention of Mr Trump's UK visit in the Queen's Speech to Parliament, as is traditional when setting out state visits for the year.
The US president accepted the Queen's invitation for him to travel to Britain when Prime Minister Theresa May visited Washington in January.
But there have been reports that Mr Trump changed his mind and did not want to visit while there was potential for protests against him.
It is far from certain he will avoid them in France.
Left-wing lawmaker Jean-Luc MÃ©lenchon said: "Donald Trump is violent and has no reason for being here."


In the final moments of Tuesday's festivities, the rapturous applause of thousands who had gathered on The Mall to see the Queen was drowned out by a deafening RAF flypast.

Streaming red, white and blue over Buckingham Palace, it drew to a close one of the biggest celebrations in Britain's royal history in majestic, albeit rainy, fashion.
The booming 60-gun salute, the carriage procession, the distant, yet intimate balcony appearance, and the rousing rendition of the National Anthem.
Many who witnessed it in person felt London - maybe even the world - had never seen anything quite like it.
"We're the envy of everyone with these events," said Margaret Barker, 70, from Middlesbrough. "Nowhere else puts on a show like us."
Some had camped out after Monday's concert to make sure they were in the front row for the closing moments.
Others had made their home in this place - sodden sleeping bags and all - for the whole of the long weekend.
But the crowds on The Mall - 30 deep in some areas - were quick to remind anyone who asked that their sacrifices - a comfy bed, a hot dinner, a comforting cuppa - were all worth it for the Queen.
As Lisa Maysey, 40, a paramedic, from Ashford in Kent, pointed out: "She puts the Great in Great Britain."
However, it was that clear the Duke of Edinburgh, absent because of ill health, was also very much in people's thoughts.
"Three cheers for Prince Philip!" shouted a loud voice from the back - and The Mall was happy to oblige.
There were comical moments too.
A wayward horn prompted laughter from the crowd amid the pomp of a military drill - although not a single smirk could be seen on the faces of the bayonet-carrying, bearskin-clad guards.
The celebrations had begun many hours earlier for the thousands who gathered at St Paul's Cathedral.
With bells pealing loudly, and yellow-liveried trumpeters standing to attention on the stone steps, the royal entourage arrived for a service of thanksgiving - with a sermon delivered by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, and broadcast on loudspeakers for all to hear.
Fathers lifted small children onto their shoulders and well-wishers clambered on pillars around the cathedral, waving their flags and breaking into spontaneous song as the monarch pulled up in her state Bentley.
Once again, Prince Philip was not forgotten. Patricia Middleton, 60, from west London, observed: "Today has been wonderful - people are in such a great mood.
"The only thing that's sad is that Philip can't be here, but of course the Queen is carrying on - because she's fantastic."
As the day progressed, the focus switched to Parliament Square to see the Queen arrive at Westminster Hall for a lunch with 700 guests.
They dined on a pan-UK feast of marinated Uist Island salmon, Lyme Bay crab, Welsh Cambrian lamb, Isle of Wight asparagus, and Jersey Royal potatoes.
Away from the capital, Southampton celebrated as the cruise company Cunard sailed its three ships - Queen Victoria, Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth - into port together in single file for the first time.
A display by the Red Arrows over the seaport city on Tuesday evening was unfortunately cancelled, but there will be a fireworks display before the ships leave port from 23:00 BST.
Street parties also continued around the UK. At one, in Mold, in Flintshire, they jived and jitterbugged all day long at a 1950s-themed do.
This fourth day of celebrations, taking place on an extra bank holiday, came after many other memorable events to mark the monarch's reign.
On Saturday, Her Majesty attended the Epsom Derby, indulging her passion for horse racing, and on Sunday, according to the organisers of the Big Jubilee Lunch, some six million people stubbornly ignored the unkind weather to take tea and sandwiches with friends and neighbours.
Among them were Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall who attended a lunch in London's Piccadilly, stopping to chat to those eating their food in the drizzle.
Later that day, an historic 1,000-strong flotilla glided down the Thames and according to organisers, more than a million people turned out to watch.
Then on Monday thousands attended a special Diamond Jubilee picnic in the grounds of Buckingham Palace and enjoyed a picnic hamper created by chef Heston Blumenthal - perhaps, thankfully, without his signature snail porridge or bacon and egg ice cream.
The ticket holders then joined the Queen and the Royal Family to watch a concert in front of the palace.
Featuring performances by Robbie Williams, Kylie Minogue and Sir Elton John among others, it drew many thousands more onto The Mall to watch on big screens.
It all ended with a firework display and more than 4,000 beacons being lit in the UK and around the world - the final one by the Queen herself.
Not everyone joined in the festivities, with members of the anti-monarchist group Republic staging demonstrations over the whole four days.
But in most places, there were smiles - most notably from the Queen herself, who beamed her appreciation to the masses below the Buckingham Palace balcony.
With several celebratory cascades of rifle fire and three absolutely enormous cheers for Her Majesty, it was a spectacular way to end to the Diamond Jubilee.
In a glittering Union Jack top hat, Anne Hall, 67, from Filey in North Yorkshire, summed up the sentiment of those on The Mall.
"It makes you proud to be British."


You've got to be a sucker for punishment to be a football referee, haven't you?

When a survey* indicates that one in five in England has suffered physical abuse and nearly two-thirds experience verbal abuse on a regular basis, why would you want to put yourself in harm's way?
More importantly, who would want to do such a job?
Here, four referees under 30 - a schoolteacher, an anti-social behaviour officer, a business development consultant and a paralegal - talk candidly about their careers and reveal what drives them.
Tell us your stories, either by commenting at the bottom of the piece, or by joining today's Sportsday debate.
"Reffing gives me my own identity, it gives me control. I like to build a rapport with players, coaches and parents, but the game depends on my decisions and how good my decision-making is. There is a buzz having control of a game in my hand.
"Adult games are the toughest ones. The players release so much tension and frustration. Sometimes it's just passion, sometimes they want to prove a point. It's funny because I used to be that player.
"Respect is a massive thing for me. You can have an opinion, just don't be abusive. I've had abusive language directed at me, but never a racist comment. There are idiots on the sidelines, but you can't ignore them. If I ignore them, I'd have to ignore everyone.
"Refs are always getting slaughtered for any mistakes they make, but they never get enough praise when they get something right. There is a lot of pressure. All eyes are on them. But they are only human.
"There is more chance to further your career as a ref than as a player. The ambition is to become a professional referee. I would love to be the Amir Khan of football referees - a role model for others."
"I started refereeing to get a bit of extra pocket money. It beats getting a paper round. It was like getting dragged on a rollercoaster for the first time. You don't want to get on, but then you do it and you love it.
"It requires 110% commitment and a lot of sacrifice. I needed to explain to my friends and girlfriend that this is my career and it comes first. I've sacrificed my Friday nights. I'm always in bed nice and early.
"There is always going to be an element of abuse, but the Football Association is working hard to put this right. The Premier League needs to set a better example. What you see there filters down to grassroots football. If Wayne Rooney or whoever is behaving badly, that gets replicated around the country.
"Refereeing has changed me as a person. I used to be the quietest of people, but refereeing has given me a lot of confidence and helped me with my personal life and my love life.
"There are so many more opportunities to progress as a ref than as a footballer. There is a lot of commitment involved, but if a ref wants it enough, they'll get there. It's so enjoyable. I'd recommend it to anyone."
"I was never going to make it as a player, but I just love football and a ref gets paid to be involved in the game. What could be better? I love the banter and I love the game.
"A spectator recently shouted out that the football pitch was no place for a female referee and told me to get back to the kitchen and get out the ironing board. I've been a ref since I was 14 and haven't heard someone say that kind of thing to me for a good 10 years.
"There will always be people who disrespect you. It's about having the strength of character to cope. I've grown as a person a lot more as a referee. I'm so much more outgoing.
"You have to be massively committed. I'm out all day Saturday and Sunday and train three nights a week if I don't have a midweek game. I don't see my friends as often as I would like and I miss nights out, but they are very supportive and tell me they are proud of me.
"TV commentators annoy me because they often don't know the laws of the game. Those who have played the game often don't know the laws of the game either."
"I was with a few mates, probably watching a really, really bad refereeing performance at Rochdale Football Club, and decided to give it a go. I was really bad at football, so this was a way of staying in the game.
"I've been assaulted. I was about 19 or 20. I showed somebody a card, I can't remember if it was a yellow or a red, and they headbutted me. I just picked up the ball and walked off the pitch. I was told to grow up by some of the players. I was quite small at the time and a bit baby-faced, someone they perhaps thought they could manipulate.
"I went back to the changing rooms and started crying. I was in floods of tears and I thought about quitting. I took some time away from the game, about three months, came back for a game, didn't enjoy it and took another four months out.
"Since I've come back, I've never felt in any danger. Any negative experiences I've had, I've turned into a positive. You can still achieve what you set your mind to when you have the right support.
"Refs are normal people and don't deserve the abuse they get. It's easy to blame the ref - that will never change - but I'd urge people to take note of themselves before they jump all over us. What would I say to anyone who wanted to be a ref? Do it. It's the best thing I've ever done."
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* More than 2,000 referees, mostly from grassroots football, took part in the survey, which was carried out by academics from Loughborough, Portsmouth and Edge Hill universities.
The results of that survey were then shared with the BBC Radio 5 live Investigates team, who spoke to some of the referees who had responded. You can listen to that programme again via the BBC iPlayer.


The general counsel for Craig Ferrer, chief executive of small ads website Backpage, has said the charges against him made by the California and Texas attorneys general are "illegal".

He and two of the site's controlling shareholders are accused of pimping.
Allegations that the site has carried adverts aiding forced prostitution have dogged the platform for some years.
Liz McDougall, representing Mr Ferrer, told the BBC the prosecution was an "election-year stunt".
"The actions of the California and Texas attorneys general are flatly illegal.
"They ignore the holdings of numerous federal courts that the First Amendment protects the ads on Backpage.com," she said in a statement.
"The actions of the attorneys general also violate Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act pre-empting state actions such as this one and immunising web hosts of third-party created content."
The BBC has contacted the office of the California attorney general for comment.
Adverts offering prostitution services were against the website's policies and were blocked, and the site removed them when contacted by law enforcement, Ms Mcdougall added.
Backpage operates in hundreds cities around the world, including London, Jerusalem, Beijing and Miami.
The State of California Department of Justice conducted a three-year investigation and concluded that "many" of the site's adult escort adverts involved prostitutes and victims of sex trafficking, including children.
"Raking in millions of dollars from the trafficking and exploitation of vulnerable victims is outrageous, despicable and illegal," said Attorney General Kamala D Harris, from the State of California Department of Justice.


A terminally ill rugby player allowed doctors to carry out pioneering surgery on him shortly before his death in an attempt to help others, his widow said.

St Helens star Steve Prescott had five transplants during 32 hours of experimental operations three weeks before his death in November 2013.
His widow, Linzi, met Claire Place, from Colchester, whose life has been saved by similar surgery.
Mr Prescott died aged 39 from a rare form of abdominal cancer.
He played for St Helens, Hull FC and Wakefield, as well as both England and Ireland.
His career ended in 2004 through injury and he was diagnosed with pseudomyxoma peritonei in 2006.
Despite being given only months to live, he battled the disease and was made an MBE for his charity work.
Linzi Prescott told BBC North West Tonight: "It's amazing to meet Claire finally - when it's something so rare it makes you feel quite close to them.
"After diagnosis Steve changed as a person and it moulded the person he became. He turned his sights to helping other people
"He went through what he went through for somebody else and not for nothing, really."
His pancreas, duodenum, small bowel, stomach and stomach wall were transplanted at Oxford's Churchill Hospital as part of the lengthy experimental operation.
Claire Place was diagnosed with pseudomyxoma eight years ago and underwent a similar multi-organ transplant when traditional treatment started to fail.
She said: "I feel great, it's amazing. It's nice to be able to eat and drink again. Even things like walking the dog is easy again now."


Championship side Fulham have had their transfer embargo lifted by the Football League and are now free to trade in the transfer window.

The ban was imposed in December after the club breached the League's Financial Fair Play regulations.
The Whites exceeded the permitted loss of £6m in 2014-15 following their relegation from the Premier League.
Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic was able to make three loan signings in January despite the embargo.
"With the embargo now lifted, the club will continue to pursue its targets in an effort to ensure it has a squad capable of competing successfully in the 2016-17 Championship," said a statement on the club website.
Midfielder Scott Parker and goalkeeper Jesse Joronen have signed new one-year deals at Craven Cottage since the end of the season.
Fulham finished the campaign 20th in the Championship table, 11 points above the relegation zone.


England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler hit his highest Twenty20 score as Mumbai Indians beat Kings XI Punjab by eight wickets in the Indian Premier League.

An unbeaten 106 by South Africa's Hashim Amla helped Kings XI post 198-4.
However, Buttler and fellow opener Parthiv Patel added 81 in the first 5.5 overs of the Mumbai run chase.
Buttler reached his half-century from 24 deliveries and smashed 77 from 37 balls - including five sixes and seven fours - to set up an eight-wicket win.
Amla cleared the ropes six times in making his maiden T20 century, and was well supported by Australian Glenn Maxwell's 18-ball 40 as they looked to have put Kings XI in a commanding position.
But some brutal hitting allowed Lancashire's Buttler to compile his maiden IPL fifty, sharing big partnerships with Patel (37) and Nitish Rana (62 not out from 34 balls) as Mumbai secured victory.