Atkinson’s TV return stokes up emotions

SO Ron Atkinson’s back in football. Or should that be television. Or, more accurately, perhaps showbiz.

It’s difficult to tell after learning that Atkinson’s proposed role at struggling League One club Swindon is wrapped up in a television deal which hands over a six-figure fee in return for the making of a warts-and-all documentary entitled Big Ron Manager.

I’ve no problems with Atkinson returning to football. Although I understand where they are coming from, I’m not in the camp which would flog him in public each and every week for his well-documented comments back in April 2004. Those remarks deservedly cost Atkinson his £200,000-a-year commentary job with ITV and an estimated £1m more from other career opportunities which unsurprisingly bit the dust. He has also apologised copiously, if not always as grovellingly as some would like. But there is no doubt he has been punished, just as there is no question that he is not and never was a racist. Stupid and brash? Yes. Egotistical? Without doubt. But not a racist. His West Brom, Manchester United and Sheffield Wednesday teams of yesteryear contained too many black players, some nurtured, others like Cyrille Regis befriended, for that to be so.