Mark Wright's hopes of hanging on to his job as Oxford United manager receded over the weekend when the Football Association admitted he had been found guilty of including a "racial element" in his verbal attack on black referee Joe Ross.

Wright faces a full disciplinary hearing at the third division club this Friday into his conduct on October 20.

On that day, he was dismissed from the dug-out during the Division 3 game between Oxford United and Scunthorpe for comments made to the referee in reaction to the dismissals of Paul Moody and Phil Bolland, which were later overturned by an FA disciplinary panel.

The former Liverpool and England defender was subsequently found guilty of using "abusive, indecent and insulting language" by a two-man FA commission.

But the Sunday People accused the FA of sweeping under the carpet a claim by Ross that he had been racially abused by the Oxford manager.

However, over the weekend, the FA's head of communications, Paul Newman, issued a new statement, which backed Ross's claims.

It said: "Mark Wright was alleged to have made two offensive remarks to match officials.

"On the evidence presented, the commission were not satisfied that the first remark had taken place.

"They did, however, find that the second remark had been made and the commission took the view that there was a racial element.

"This was taken into account in determining the penalty imposed on Mr Wright - namely a fine of £1,750 and a four-match touchline ban."

Wright refutes the claim that he racially abused the referee. He was alleged to have called Ross a "black bastard" but despite Ross's report, that remark appears to have been "unproven" by the FA.

However, yesterday, the People claimed they had learned that Wright was charged on the grounds of a second comment.

I understand the second remark was made when Wright went back into the officials' dressing room half an hour after the end of the match.

United chairman Firoz Kassam said: "Racism is not something that should be allowed in football, which is why I am taking the stand I am taking. But I've got to be fair to Mark, he has to be given a fair chance to put his side of the story.

"I liked him as a person, he's a great guy, who tried his best while he was here. I would be the last one to do him out of the job."

Kassam told me the disciplinary hearing will be "thorough" and will take into account evidence from all necessary parties. That is likely to include claims by all of the October 20 match officials.

Wright will attend Friday's internal disciplinary hearing, and he will be represented by the League Managers' Association.

John Barnwell, speaking on Wright's behalf, said: "Mark Wright has not made any racist remarks. This was confirmed by independent witnesses."