In a ‘mountainous blow’ to Sky Sports actions, Kelly Cates will join the BBC and affect a ‘three-particular person presenting group’ on Match of the Day, in step with reports.
It was confirmed last month that Gary Lineker will step down as MOTD host at the quit of the season after 26 years.
He’ll also officially run away the BBC after the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Lineker’s yearly salary of £1.35million will be slashed at the quit of 2024/25 before leaving the BBC in a twelve months and a half.
“I essentially feel that is now the beautiful time,” the primitive England manager mentioned of his possibility. “I focus on [with] the next [highlights] contract, they’re taking a gaze to affect Match of the Day a cramped bit in another device, so I focus on it’s miles understanding for any individual else to rob the helm.
He added on The Leisure is Soccer podcast: “I continuously notion my next thing would be the quit. I’ve been fascinated about it for a truly prolonged time. I’ve performed Match of Day for 25 years. It’s been an absolute joy and a privilege to display such an iconic exhibit for the BBC.
“But all issues need to return to an quit.
“The [rights] cycle starts from next season, so it felt treasure if I beautiful affect but another twelve months would a cramped weird and wonderful.
“So I focus on to get a obvious presenter in position would be potentially wise no longer beautiful for me, however no doubt for the BBC as smartly.
“But I essentially wished to quit on a most considerable match [and] affect the FA Cup as smartly. So you’ve no longer pretty bought rid of me beautiful but.”
OPINION: Match of the Day has pitfalls to beware in hunt for Gary Lineker substitute
Match of the Day 2 host Mark Chapman like a flash emerged as the approved to alter Lineker, although Gabby Logan and Sky Sports actions’ Kelly Cates had been also reportedly top candidates.
There had been murmurs of greater than one host being chosen and that appears to be like to be what the BBC are planning.
Sky Sports actions presenter Kelly Cates headed to MOTD at quit of 2024/25
In accordance to the Day-to-day Mail, ‘Cates is joining the BBC to host MOTD in a most considerable blow to Sky Sports actions’.
Cates, 49, will it sounds as if affect a ‘three-particular person presenting group’ alongside Logan and Chapman.
The Glasgow-born daughter of Liverpool tale Kenny Dalglish has abilities engaged on the radio for talkSPORT and BBC Radio 5 Live and has also labored on the tv for ESPN, STV, Channel 5, Channel 4, GMTV, ITV, Setanta Sports actions (RIP) and co-offered ESPN’s ‘Assure of the Terrace’ with Chapman.
The sage claims that the understanding Cates has been ‘identified by the BBC as the main external candidate to alter Gary Lineker’ with responsibilities on MOTD and MOTD 2 ‘split between’ all three.
The sage provides:
Lineker, who took over presenting responsibilities on the flagship BBC exhibit from Des Lynam in 1999, will bring the curtain down after 26 years. The 63-twelve months-outmoded would possibly perchance presumably presumably be position to move the BBC exclusively after the 2026 World Cup in The United States, Mexico, and Canada. It is identified executives, headed by unusual director of sport Alex Kay-Jelski, need to pass the exhibit in a fresh direction and, as Mail Sport printed, are pondering bringing a details ingredient to the exhibit.
READ NOW: Maresca, Slot ‘humiliating’ Arteta as ‘billion-pound bottle-jobs’ Arsenal ‘won’t salvage the league’ with him
