Gumble, was speaking to HR magazine after the news that Channel 4 horse racing pundit, John McCririck, has started legal proceedings as he seeks £3 million in damages for alleged age discrimination after the broadcaster decided to axe him last year.
According to 72 year-old, McCririck, he was sacked from Channel 4 Racing in October 2012 "without any consultation or cogent explanation".
McCririck is suing Channel 4 and IMG Sports Media, which took over production of the broadcaster's racing coverage from the start of 2013, for £2.5 million in punitive damages and is looking for a further £500,000 in compensation for loss of future earnings, unfair career damaging, public humiliation, stress and mental anguish.
In a statement to the press association, McCririck said: "Channel 4 and production company IMG Sports Media were yesterday each served a letter before action for age discrimination.
"Ageism is illegal. For tens of thousands of employees, it has become the feared scourge of our society. This litigation should prove to be a watershed. There's no upper limit to the amount of damages employment tribunals can award under the Equality Act 2010," he said.
Gumble told HR magazine: "If a person has got the energy, skills and knowledge to do a job then age is completely irrelevant. So in terms of this I can see where he might have a case.
"If you are looking to remove someone from your organisation then it has to start with a conversation and must be fair and objective.
"Companies must tackle performance issues properly and be a lot hotter on their performance management, else cases of ageism, such as this, will be more common."
McCririck said he was being represented on a no-win, no-fee basis by employment and sports law specialist solicitor Stephen Beverley, of the London West End Cavendish Legal Group.
