Malky Mackay texts: Cardiff want LMA chief Richard Bevan to resign

Bevan was appointed chief executive of the LMA in 2008

Cardiff City have called for League Managers' Association chief Richard Bevan to resign after the organisation described offensive text messages sent by Malky Mackay as "friendly banter".

The LMA apologised after provoking criticism from anti-discrimination campaigners over its statement.

However, Cardiff maintain that Bevan's position is now untenable.

The FA is investigating Mackay's comments as part of a dossier submitted by Cardiff alleging misconduct.

The LMA's original statement on behalf of Mackay said that two text messages sent by the former Cardiff boss to ex-Bluebirds colleague Iain Moody were "disrespectful of other cultures", but defended them as "friendly text message banter".

"We find it entirely reprehensible that the LMA should put out a statement which seeks to dismiss deeply offensive racist comments as 'friendly banter'," the club said in a statement.

"If that is the view held by the LMA, as appears from its statement, we consider that Richard Bevan's position is untenable and we call for his resignation."

The club also accused the LMA of failing to fulfil its duties.

Iain Moody and Malky Mackay were both sacked by Cardiff City in 2013

"The LMA is the representative voice of managers, and one of its major aims is to 'encourage honourable practice, conduct and courtesy in all professional activity'," Cardiff said.

"Regrettably, we feel that the LMA has done no such thing in its representation of Mr Mackay and Mr Moody."

Troy Townsend, the education and development manager of anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out, also criticised the LMA.

"[I was] more disappointed than anything else," he told BBC Radio 5 live. "It took the focus away from Malky and the alleged texts and put the focus on the LMA and their support and backing towards him.

"I'm not sure how it got through. It's made everyone's work in this industry really difficult. It just makes it seem that what happened is acceptable."

In its latest statement on Friday, the LMA said it "apologises for some of its wording which was inappropriate and has been perceived to trivialise matters of a racist, sexist or homophobic nature".

"It is beyond argument that any comments that are discriminatory, even used in private, are totally unacceptable," the statement continued.

"The LMA remains absolutely aware of our responsibility to the game and to promote and uphold the highest standards of behaviour."

Mackay, who lost his job at Cardiff in December, was thought to be favourite for the vacant manager's job at Crystal Palace until the story emerged.

He says he will fully co-operate with any FA investigation and "looks forward to putting the record straight".

Moody resigned as Crystal Palace sporting director on Thursday, but has yet to comment on the story.

He was sacked as Cardiff's head of player recruitment last October after a row with owner Vincent Tan over transfer activity and joined Palace a month later.