Ref. 22489-13 Fraser DigbySwindon Town legend Fraser Digby has defended the club's decision to invite disgraced pundit Ron Atkinson to speak at a sporting dinner.

The former goalkeeper, who started his career under Big Ron at Manchester United, said his former boss had been persecuted enough for making racist remarks about black Chelsea player Marcel Desailly.

Atkinson was sacked by ITV for his comments, which were made in April during a live television broadcast. He apologised for causing offence, but anti-racism campaigners in Swindon said inviting him to the town sent out the wrong message.

Now Digby has come to the defence of his former boss and said there was no reason why the club should not have booked Atkinson for the sporting dinner at the County Ground on October 14.

"People say he's got to pay for his comment but I think he has paid very heavily for something that he bitterly regrets," said Digby.

"You can't condone what he has done but we are only human and we all make mistakes."

Digby, who is now the goalkeeping coach at Swindon Town and works in the club's marketing department, said he remembered Atkinson as a genuine bloke.

"I knew him and worked with him for nearly four years when I was at United and there's no way I'd ever say he was a racist," he said.

"He's an interesting figure with lots of stories to tell and a lot of good things to say and he's been persecuted enough for what he has done."

Digby, who began his career at Old Trafford in 1983 before moving on to enjoy 12 successful years at Town from 1986 to 1998, said the club was as committed as ever to stamping out racism.

"We have done a lot to kick racism out of football and we don't feel by inviting him to our dinner we are upsetting things," he said.

Tony Norris, of the Swindon Town Supporters' Trust said he believed fans would be evenly split over whether the club had done the right thing in inviting Atkinson.

But he said if it were up to him he would not have made the booking because of the trust's links with the anti-racist Kick It Out campaign.

"The trust wouldn't have booked him because of his past misdemeanour," said Mr Norris.

He said the club should consider withdrawing the invitation if large numbers of fans disapproved.

Nigel Bennett, a spokesman for Swindon Town Supporters' Club, said: "Atkinson made a very unfortunate comment but, after a lifetime in the game there are likely to be diverging opinions on whether he should have been invited. People must make up their own minds."

Andy Tate