Senior figure at Greater Manchester Uni left ‘with immediate effect’ after racism allegations

A senior management figure at the University of Greater Manchester (formerly the University of Bolton) has left with immediate effect following an investigation into alleged “racist and disrespectful” comments.

The Mill published a report on an audio clip obtained from students at the university, in which two men can be heard talking.

The edited audio clip contains a discussion between two men, one of whom is alleged to be Wheeler, where the primary voice states: “We don’t want to turn Bolton into small Lagos”.

The university then announced the departure of Joseph Wheeler in a statement shared on Monday, confirming an “edited audio clip came into [its] possession.”

Joseph Wheeler previously held the role of executive director of marketing communications within the university.

In the audio recording, which was circulated among staff and students, a man can also be heard saying: “At the end of the day, somebody from Nigeria looks exactly the same as somebody from Ghana”.

During its investigation, The Mill heard from university staff the comments were not said to be an isolated incident.

When contacted for comment, a spokesperson from the University of Greater Manchester said: “Initial allegations put to the university via the media, without supporting evidence, were published on Thursday 6th February. They had not been raised through the university’s official internal procedures.