Former Rangers star Maurice Ross has apologised for his "clumsy and insensitive" comment that ultimately cost him his job as Notts County assistant.
A remark uttered towards substitutes regarding Dutch winger Enzio Boldewijn, who is black, prompted an outcry among the National League side's squad.
Ross, who also turned out for Aberdeen, Motherwell and Livingston in his playing days, resigned from the club within 48 hours as rumours circled as to what the ex-Scotland star really said and whether it was an issue of racism.
And he's now owned up to the remark as he admitted he questioned whether Boldewijn's passport had been altered, a vulgar stereotype towards players from Africa with racist connotations.
Speaking to BBC Sportsound, Ross said: "We had a game on Saturday, an away game.
"In the second half I made reference to Enzio, a typically quick player.
"I made the comment that he was moving around the pitch like he was 40 years old.
"The exact words I said were: 'He looks like he's moving like a 40-year-old. What age is he actually? Does he have a doctored African passport?'
"Even as I'm saying it now, at the time it was clearly a reference to his mobility because he's normally a quick player.
"I had no other intentions other than I was questioning the mobility of a football player.
"When I say it back now, I'm wincing at it. There's no rhyme or reason for it, it was a clumsy and insensitive analogy.
"If I could take it back I would - this is a fellow professional and I have insulted his physical attributes. I feel sad that I've made a guy who is actually a lovely boy feel bad about himself."
