Jeff Stelling names Gary Lineker's Match of the Day replacement with warning to BBC

Gary Lineker volition soon depart Match of the Day and that leaves the BBC seeking his replacement with Jeff Stelling tipping Mark Chapman to measurement successful aft years with the corporation

Jeff Stelling is adamant that Mark Chapman is the champion antheral to regenerate Gary Lineker arsenic the Match of the Day host.

The BBC person confirmed that Lineker volition permission his post with the corp erstwhile the play comes to an end. That volition bring the curtain down connected 25 years successful the relation with attraction present turning to who volition regenerate him.

Despite the existent inclination of switching up programmes to pull a younger assemblage Stelling insists that Chapman, who is already connected the BBC's books and presently presents Match of the Day 2, is the acceptable made antheral to capable the sizeable void that Lineker volition permission - though he has reportedly rejected a job-share situation which could person seen hosting duties divided betwixt him and Kelly Somers.

Stelling told the Telegraph: “Chappers is the antheral for the job. Great presenter, bully consciousness of humour, bully rapport with the guests, he’s got to beryllium the man, surely.”

Stelling, who fronted Soccer Saturday for astir 30 years, stopped moving with Sky Sports precocious but is renowned arsenic 1 of the finest sports anchors of his generation. He has aired concerns implicit however the TV world is changing, with demographics becoming progressively influential.

For Stelling though a beardown merchandise volition ever travel earlier the optics arsenic helium bemoaned the instauration of those who've go influential figures connected societal media.

“Demographics? I’ve ne'er bought the worldly astir a caller demographic," helium added. "It’s a forlorn pursuit to look for a younger assemblage that astir apt aren’t funny successful the programme anyhow by having younger presenters, influencers, social-media types. I’ve ne'er believed that was the mode forward.

"Call maine old-fashioned, but I’ve ever felt the mode to pull an assemblage of immoderate demographic is to marque definite you enactment retired a high-quality product. If the programme is watched by mums and dads successful their forties, marque definite it is bully capable truthful that erstwhile the caller procreation scope their forties it is thing they privation to watch.

"If I’m going to perceive idiosyncratic talking astir a shot match, I’d alternatively it was idiosyncratic who had played the crippled and is capable to spot things radical similar maine lasting connected the terraces can’t see, than is simply a large fig connected societal media.”

The BBC person a fig of radical being linked with Lineker's post. The erstwhile England planetary has made his prime known to the corporation, but has kept that private. Alongside Chapman and Somers the likes of Alex Scott and Gabby Logan are besides being considered.

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