BBC pundit criticises controversial Match of the Day plan to replace Gary Lineker
The BBC have confirmed that former England striker Gary Lineker will leave Match of the Day at the end of the season but the plan for his replacement has not gone down particularly well
by Daniel Orme · The MirrorBBC star Troy Deeney has slammed Match of the Day's controversial ‘job share’ plan to replace Gary Lineker.
The broadcaster confirmed that the former England striker would leave his role as the programme’s main presenter. It is a role that he has held since 1999 after replacing Des Lynam.
Immediately after the announcement was made, attention turned to who could potentially replace Lineker. It was suggested that one route the BBC could go down was a possible job share between MOTD2 host Mark Chapman and Kelly Sommers.
But that controversial plan has not gone down particularly well. Speaking on talkSPORT, Ally McCoist said: “I don’t know about job share…”
Ex-Watford striker Deeney - who has a regular column with the BBC - replied: “Yeah, I was about to say the same thing. I feel it’s an iconic show and you’re used to seeing one person. I want to go and see one person, whether that be Chappers or that be Kelly. I know both of them, great, great people.
“So whoever you choose to go with, I think trying to job share it is a cop out, in my opinion. Make a decision, go with somebody and then we all know that's where the show’s going, that’s who it is.”
Meanwhile, the decision appears to have received pushback from those involved. According to The Sun, Chapman has ‘flatly refused’ the idea of a job share.
"As soon as Gary's deal was done, Alex [Alex Kay-Jelski, BBC Director of Sport] made it clear he wanted Mark and Kelly to replace him," a source quoted by the publication said. “It would effectively be a job share and they would rotate hosting duties between them.
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“Mark has made it clear within the team at MOTD that this isn't something he would want to do. He doesn't want a job share, he wants Gary's role as his own, which is understandable.
"It's a headache for the BBC because they thought they'd found an easy solution. It's back to the drawing board and negotiations are ongoing."
Kay-Jelski has since spoken out on Lineker’s upcoming departure. He said: "After 25 seasons Gary is stepping down from MOTD. We want to thank him for everything he has done for the show, which continues to attract millions of viewers each week. He’ll be hugely missed on the show but we’re so happy he is staying with the BBC to present live football.”
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