Doesn't understand default file paths

If for a repository path I decide to use my file system (not the local repo but a remote), then Wagon doesn't always figure out the path information. If I use this it works:
file:///MyDir/TheRepo
But If I just use this:
/MyDir/TheRepo
then it fails. I know this is unusual since remote repos are usually at some HTTP URL but this should work any way.

I debugged the problem. It stems from PathUtils.java. I feel that protocol() should default to "file" if there is none present. basedir() might also have to be adjusted.

If the committers decide that this should not work after all, then Wagon should give a clear error that the repository URL doesn't have a protocol.