MALKY Mackay’s impending appointment as the Scottish Football Association’s new performance director has been backed by an anti-racism group.

Show Racism the Red Card Scotland wished Mackay well in his sig-nificant new role, which is expected to be confirmed today and will put him in charge of overseeing the development of elite young players.

The English FA held an 11-month investigation into allegedly racist, sexist and homophobic text messages sent between Mackay and Iain Moody, his head of player recruitment when he was Cardiff City manager.

The FA decided not to bring charges “in respect of private com- munications sent with a legitimate expectation of privacy’’. A number of organisations criticised the decision, including anti-discrimination group Kick it Out, the Jewish Leadership Council and Women in Football.

Mackay denied being racist, sexist or homophobic and the FA stressed during its announcement in July 2015 that the former Celtic defender had voluntarily undertaken equality and diversity training.

SNP MSP Clare Haughey claimed Mackay’s appointment would “risk sending a message that bigotry is no barrier to a top job in Scottish football, a particularly terrible message to send to the young players of tomorrow”. But Show Racism the Red Card Scotland argue the 44-year-old deserves the chance to revive his career.

Chief executive Ged Grebby said: “After admitting to sending text messages that were very regrettable and disrespectful to other cultures, Malky Mackay underwent equality and diversity training through an education programme with the FA and we wish him well in his new role at the SFA.”

Campaign manager Nicola Hay added: “SRtRC firmly believe edu- cation is key in combating homophobia, racism and racist attitudes. Malky Mackay has been through an education programme and we hope this will have changed his attitudes and made him more aware of appropriate and inappropriate language/behaviour.”

Mackay was sacked by Cardiff in December 2013 and dropped a claim against the club six months later, apologising unreservedly to owner Vincent Tan for “any offence” he might have caused. News of the text messages emerged in August 2014 when Mackay was on the verge of being appointed Crystal Palace manager. Cardiff announced they had sent a dossier to the FA. Mackay was controversially hired and then fired by Wigan during the course of the investigation.

The former Queen’s Park player has had opportunities to return to management in the past 18 months. It is understood he was on Celtic’s shortlist to replace Ronny Deila.

He is set to replace Brian McClair as the SFA’s performance director. McClair quit in the summer, after a little over a year in the post, amid frustration over obstacles to the implementation of his planned reforms of youth football.

Mark Warburton was assistant academy director at Watford when Mackay was manager there and believes he has the credentials to make a success of the Hampden post. The Rangers manager said: “I know Malky very well. He’s a football man through and through. I’ve read some shocking statements about Malky. I get very disappointed when I see people copying and pasting articles from three-and-a-half years ago.

“But I do know Malky’s integrity, I know he’s an honest football person. I’ve watched him work with young players and old players and he’s a first-class football man.

“He’s very knowledgeable, very articulate. He’s good on the grass, good in the boardroom. He’s a very smart guy and I know he’ll do a great job for the SFA.”

Warburton rejected suggestions his friend would be under pressure to make an immediate impact in his new role because of his past controversies.

He said: “Without being rude, that would be entirely the wrong thing. ‘To hit the ground running’ – what does that mean? It’s a long-term job.

“You don’t just suddenly put in development plans and then say we’ve just won a World Cup. It doesn’t work that way, it takes time to put structures in place.

“Has Malky got the organisational skills? Is he smart enough? Absolutely – but it is a long-term project by the very nature of its title.”

SFA chief executive Stewart Regan admitted McClair had struggled to convince club chiefs across the country of his vision for the future.

But Warburton believes Mackay will be able to enter boardrooms and sell his plans with success.

He said: “Malky is smart enough to realise they will always look after their own interests because we have to. We’re here to look after Rangers and the other clubs will say the same.

“But there is obviously a problem and the game has to improve, so we also appreciate it’s about the greater good.

“So how can we contribute? What role can Rangers play in the bigger picture? It’s about getting the balance right.

“Malky is good in the boardroom, good in meetings as well as on the grass, so I think he has all the attributes required.”