An anti-racism charity has backed Malky Mackay's appointment as the new performance director at the Scottish Football Association.

The 44-year-old is expected to be given the job despite being sacked by Cardiff City owner Vincent Tan in 2013 after allegedly sending a series of racist text messages to other staff at the club.

In its job description, the SFA said the new performance director would need to "develop and maintain a successful image and profile for the Scottish FA and Scotland teams both in the UK and worldwide".

The former Cardiff City and Wigan Athletic manager was the subject of an 11-month investigation by the English Football Association surrounding alleged text messages sent between himself and Ian Moody, his head of player recruitment with the Bluebirds.

The FA decided not to bring charges "in respect of private communications sent with a legitimate expectation of privacy" but that decision was condemned by a number of organisations, including anti-discriminatory group Kick it Out.

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".

Show Racism the Red Card Scotland (SRTRC) believes the 44-year-old deserves the chance to revive his career.

Chief executive Ged Grebby said in a statement: "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."

The organisation's campaign manager, Nicola Hay, added: "SRTRC firmly believes that education is key in combating homophobia, racism and racist attitudes.

"Malky Mackay has been through an education programme and we hope that this will have changed his attitudes and made him more aware of appropriate and inappropriate language/behaviour."

Rangers boss Mark Warburton also backed Mackay, saying he is the perfect man to revolutionise youth development in Scotland.

Warburton was assistant academy director at Watford when Mackay managed the Hornets and believes he has all the necessary credentials to make a success of the Hampden post.

He said: "I know Malky very well. He's a football man through and through. 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."

The SFA is expected to reveal Mackay as its new performance director on Thursday.