Come on, Ron

When Swindon Town announced it had invited Big Ron to a sporting dinner earlier this week, anti-racism campaigners in the town were outraged and labelled the invitation stupid and disappointing.

So we threw open the debate to and launched our own phone poll on Wednesday.

Readers were asked to vote on whether Big Ron should come to Swindon Town and make his after dinner speech.

Lines closed yesterday and a large number of people want to see the former ITV commentator come to the County Ground on October 14.

Figures reveal that 81 per cent people voted in favour of Big Ron coming, with 19 per cent of callers voting against.

Big Ron was sacked by ITV in April for making racist remarks about black Chelsea player Marcel Desailly during a live television broadcast.

The former Manchester United manager apologised for making the remark .

Bob Holt, acting chief executive at Swindon Town, said: "I'm delighted with the result. That's excellent news.

"We should not be judge and jury if someone has made a mistake, we should forgive. How long can someone be vilified for?

"I've heard nothing but good reports about Ron Atkinson, so we shouldn't just remember his mistakes."

But Andy Newman, race officer for the GMB union in Swindon, said: "This is an issue of right and wrong which can't be decided by a phone poll.

"His coming to Swindon would taint the whole of the town with the racist language he used.

"Many people voting in favour of Atkinson may have done so just because they thought we were criticising Swindon Town, which we're not doing.

"I hope that the club can find an alternative speaker and have just as good an evening.

"It would also be useful if they distanced themselves officially from what he said."

Steve Allsopp of the Swindon Racial Equality Council said: "We continue to be disappointed with the football club and it is a shame they have not reconsidered their decision.

"Most right-thinking people feel it's inappropriate."