Big Ron's radio return

Shamed football pundit Ron Atkinson is returning to broadcasting 18 months after losing his job over a racist outburst.

Atkinson will host a sports phone-in show on radio.

His career came to an abrupt end in April last year when he branded Chelsea player Marcel Desailly a "f***ing lazy thick nigger" during a live TV broadcast.

He lost his job with ITV and was dumped as a national newspaper columnist.

But he is now taking the first steps towards reviving his career with a daily drivetime show on Yorkshire station Real Radio which begins on August 1.

Former Sheffield Wednesday boss Atkinson said: "I can't wait to get back to the job I love and am really looking forward to talking to sports fans about the day's sporting stories."

Despite the race row over his remarks about Desailly, Real Radio bosses think the "colourful character" will be a hit with listeners.

"Ron's knowledge of football is unrivalled and he has strong links with Yorkshire. He's a colourful character and we are confident our listeners will want to hear his thoughts on the day's sporting issues and get stuck into some lively debates," said programme director Terry Underhill.

"He's still got a lot to offer in terms of knowledge and sporting opinions and we believe everyone deserves a second chance."

Real Radio is part of the Guardian Media Group.

The Wakefield-based station broadcasts in West and South Yorkshire.

Atkinson attempted to improve his image by making a documentary entitled Big Ron - Am I Racist? in which he travelled the country examining race issues.

But in January he landed himself in trouble again with a racist joke about the Chinese during a fund-raising event at Sheffield Wednesday.

"I can't understand why there is such a population problem in China as they have the best contraception going. Chinese women are the ugliest in the world," he told the audience.