A regional daily reader cricitised nationally for a letter suggesting female football presenters should commentate “in their own sport” has said he stands by what he wrote.

The Star, Sheffield, came under the spotlight over the weekend after commentator Jacqui Oatley took aim at a letter by reader Ken Tomlinson, published by the newspaper, who claimed he was irritated by female reporters covering matches for the BBC.

Jacqui had posted a photograph of the letter next to a picture of herself, football writer Amy Lawrence and Sun reporter Vicky Orvice in the Watford FC press box on Saturday, offering a “little shout out to our friend, Ken, of Sheffield Star letters page fame”.

On Monday, The Star called on football’s most powerful men to take the issue of sexism more seriously after the publication of Ken’s letter, as well as reporting on “disgusting” sexist chanting which was heard at Friday night’s derby match between Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday.

The Star’s front page on Monday

But, in a follow-up email to The Star, Ken responded: “I welcome Jacqui Oatley’s comments on my stance regarding women on BBC Final Score, but she won’t spoil my Saturday because I don’t watch anymore.

“I stand by fully in what I wrote in my letter. A lot more people I’m sure, women included, feel the same. I don’t want to look at flashing eyelashes, gloss lippy, and designer clothes.

“I see England women’s football have got Phil Neville as their manager, so much for Sue Smith with her 93 caps. It’s easy to call me sexist, my letter was not intended to be so, and nor am I sexist but it’s a man’s game. Boys will be boys, and girls will be girls.”

In a piece touching on Ken’s latest correspondence, Star columnist Martin Smith wrote: “In his world Ken doesn’t see that there might be a connection between a negative and dismissive view of female football commentators and echoes of the pillaging mob among those fans who chanted their filth on Friday.

“In front of their families 95pc of the sons, fathers and grandfathers involved in the chanting would be appalled by such talk. Ken would probably never demean himself but both draw on stereotypes of women as inferior, fit only for menial work and a reproductive function, outsiders to a ‘man’s world’.

“But this is the 21st century and we know that having women in jobs that used to be an all-male club is better for everyone. And the way to get rid of the sickening songs is don’t join in.

“There’s banter and there’s sexism. They aren’t the same and people like Ken and any guilty fans need to know the difference.”