Atkinson's racist soccer jibe

Piara Powar, the Kick It Out director, said he was not surprised the commentator had quit. "It is always disappointing to hear someone of his stature make that type of comment. I have to say, regardless of his record, that sort of terminology is just simply out of bounds." However, Mr Powar stressed that it was important to acknowledge that Atkinson had a good record of working with black players during his time as manager of Aston Villa.

A spokeswoman for the Commission for Racial Equality said: "It is disappointing that someone in a position such as his should make those comments, but he has resigned - he has done the right thing."

Atkinson also writes a weekly football column for The Guardian. In a statement, the newspaper said: "We take this matter extremely seriously and will be talking to Ron Atkinson at the earliest opportunity."

The former Premiership manager, whose contract with ITV was worth £200,000 a year, was full of remorse. He was insistent that his track record, particularly in introducing black players while manager at West Bromwich Albion, proved that he was not racist. At a time when fans threw bananas at black players and the National Front recruited on the terraces, Atkinson signed Brendan Batson, Laurie Cunningham and Cyrille Regis, saying: "They could be yellow or purple and have two heads as long as they can play."

Today Batson, now deputy director of the players' union the PFA, said: "I am very disappointed that someone who was at the forefront of allowing blacks to prove themselves in football could make a remark like that, but you cannot say those sorts of things."

A spokesman for ITV Sport said there was little option but to accept Atkinson's resignation, adding: "It was a regrettable lapse by a respected and experienced broadcaster."