Big Ron will be back, claims his TV sidekick

Ron Atkinson's co-commentator believes we may not have heard the last of Big Ron as a TV football pundit.

Clive Tyldesley, who was sitting beside Atkinson in Monaco when he uttered the now infamous racist remark against Chelsea's Marcel Desailly, said: 'I cannot believe he will not be there the next time I pick up a microphone, and refuse to believe he will never be there again.'

Tyldesley admitted that Atkinson had no option but to resign and that ITV had no choice other than to accept it.

By using the word 'n*****' Atkinson had been guilty of ' unacceptable' behaviour.

'He didn't actually defame Desailly with it directly. But such is the power behind the connotations of that single word that it would have sounded just as bad if Ron had been overheard whispering it in his sleep. He shouldn't be saying it.'

Tyldesley added: 'Ron is heartbroken and his boss is no happier. We are all losers in this.'

Certainly, Atkinson will be the major loser financially. His gaffe has cost him his £200,000 job with ITV and the station removed his face from their website ahead of last night's Newcastle game, on which he was due to commentate.

Furthermore, The Guardian hit his pocket and pride by cancelling the 65-year-old's weekly column.

Brendon Batson, the former deputy chief executive at the Professional Footballers' Association, said: 'I'm dismayed that someone who has played a pivotal role in allowing black players to prove themselves in English football could make that sort of remark.

'What he said was racist and offensive but he has done the right thing by apologising and resigning.'