Match of the Day job share would be a ‘COP OUT’ say ex-footballers as controversial plan to replace Lineker revealed

ONLY one person should be appointed to replace Gary Lineker as Match of the Day presenter, according to ex-footballers Ally McCoist and Troy Deeney.

Lineker will step down from his role at the end of the season having fronted Match of the Day for the last 25 years.

MOTD2 presenter Mark Chapman is one of the favourites to replace him.

The Sun exclusively revealed on Tuesday that BBC bosses want him to share the role with Kelly Somers.

However, 'Chappers' has no interest in a job share.

A source said: "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."

Rangers legend McCoist believes it would be wrong to appoint two people for the job.

Discussing the issue on talkSPORT Breakfast, the 62-year-old said: "I don’t know about a job share…"

SunSport columnist Deeney was quick to agree and explained: "Yeah, I was about to say the same thing. I feel it’s an iconic show and you’re used to seeing one person.

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"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."

McCoist then went on to say: "I've grown up with it, I've always loved it. I really have. I've loved it. And I'm with you mate.

"I think whether it’s Chappers or Kelly, I think you should have one focal point presenting it. And it's a tough job to follow because Gary’s been brilliant. 

"Gary’s been brilliant since 1999, 24, 25 years and like Des Lynam before him, all the guys before him are iconic. But you make an interesting point, Shebahn, like anything else, like newspapers, for example. It is really hard to be a part of it. 

"We’re seeing the goals before we pick up a newspaper. We've seen the goals before we watch Match of the Day - we’ve known all about the sending offs, everything, so it’s very, very difficult to keep it as topical as possible.

"But for me, guys… I think it should be one person, new person fronting it."

BBC chiefs are still in the process of appointing a new full-time Match of the Day presenter.

Whoever is selected will likely step into the role from the start of the 2025-26 season.