Jeff Stelling makes stance clear on Soccer Saturday decision after snub

The iconic Jeff Stelling stepped down from his relation arsenic big of Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday successful 2023, and was upset to spot his preferred replacement snubbed

Jeff Stelling has explained wherefore helium believed Julian Warren was the cleanable antheral to regenerate him connected Soccer Saturday.

Stelling initially announced his volition to measurement down from the beloved amusement successful 2022 earlier making a melodramatic U-turn. He past discontinue for bully successful 2023, overmuch to the disappointment of the shot nationalist astatine large.

Finding a replacement for specified an iconic fig would not beryllium easy, though galore believed Julian Warren – long-time presenter of the show's midweek cousin, Soccer Special – should beryllium the antheral to measurement into Stelling's shoes. However, contempt Stelling's ain feelings, the occupation of replacing him went to Simon Thomas – an esteemed broadcaster successful his ain close who besides has a agelong relation with Sky Sports.

While Stelling is simply a large instrumentality of Thomas, who continues to anchor the show, the 69-year-old has admitted that helium believes Warren was the close antheral to regenerate him astatine the clip of his departure.

“Julian Warren was seemingly told by telephone that helium would not beryllium replacing maine connected Soccer Saturday,” Stelling claims successful his caller autobiography, Saturday Afternoon Fever.

“He had been presenting Soccer Specials and lasting successful for maine connected Saturdays for 10 years. He is simply a consummate broadcaster. Prepared, eloquent, informed and liked by everyone astatine Soccer Saturday.

“His acquisition would person been invaluable successful those aboriginal chaotic weeks of a caller season, which astatine times was – and I instrumentality nary pleasance successful saying this – car clang television. Possibly the nadir came erstwhile we heard a 20 2nd statement of West Ham winning their opening time fixture astatine Bournemouth, erstwhile the pictures and people caption connected surface told a antithetic story.”

Stelling references an opening time blunder made by the programme arsenic West Ham's 1-1 gully against Bournemouth was described for immoderate clip arsenic a 1-0 win.

“The blasted for that, by the way, does not prevarication conscionable with the presenter,” Stelling continued. “Julian was told seemingly that helium had not interviewed good enough! The powers that beryllium knew I felt helium was the close antheral for the job, but arsenic was becoming the norm, that counted for nothing.

“My eventual replacement, Simon Thomas, is simply a person and, much importantly, a precise bully broadcaster who deserves immoderate breaks aft the unspeakable idiosyncratic calamity helium suffered with the decease of his wife.

“I conscionable felt Julian had done his time, and I did not recognize wherefore helium was being overlooked. He inactive performs superbly connected midweek Soccer Specials.”

Fan favourite Stelling hasn’t wholly near punditry, however. He regularly appears connected the vigor for talkSPORT, hosting their meal amusement 2 days a week.

Saturday Afternoon Fever by Jeff Stelling (Headline, £22)

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