Ron AtkinsonSwindon Town has been slammed for booking disgraced football pundit Ron Atkinson as a guest speaker.

Atkinson was sacked by ITV in April for making a racist comment about a black Chelsea player.

He had described Marcel Desailly as a "******* lazy thick ******" during a live television broadcast.

The former Manchester United manager apologised for making the remark in a moment of stupidity.

But anti-racism campaigners in Swindon said inviting him to speak at a sporting dinner sent out the wrong message.

Jaginder Bassi, the director of the Swindon Racial Equality Council, described the invite as disappointing and regrettable.

"Over the last four years Swindon Town has taken positive steps to kick racism out of football, but this sends out a very negative message to all those who try to promote racial equality and fairness in society," he said.

Andy Newman, the race officer for the GMB union in Swindon, said inviting Atkinson was stupid and ill considered.

"I'm sure Swindon Town have not done this maliciously or in any way intending to cause racial offence, but they could have been a lot more cautious," he said.

"If it's not too late to retract the invitation I hope they do so."

Paul Dunn, of the Trades Union Congress for the Swindon area, said: "It is difficult for people to claim they are not racist if they use racist language. I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of people think this is a bad decision."

Labour leader David Nash agreed that the invite was potentially offensive to Town fans.

"Inviting Atkinson sends absolutely the wrong signal to fans of Town. It says it's ok to be racist," he said.

Kick it Out, a national campaign against racism in football supported by Swindon Town said Atkinson's remark had been absolutely disgraceful.

Tables for the sporting dinner, at the County Ground's Winners' Lounge on Thursday October 14, are going for up to £550, with individual tickets on sale for £55.

Bob Holt, the acting chief executive of Swindon Town, promised to investigate the decision to invite Atkinson to the club.

But he said he found it extraordinary that it should be considered controversial.

"We all make mistakes and we are all human," he said.

"If he's done everything in his power to apologise then you have to move on. You can't vilify a person for the rest of their life."

Mr Holt said Swindon Town worked hard to keep racism out of the club. Fans who made racist comments were banned from the ground, he added.

Andy Tate