Kamara ‘gutted’ about Sky Sports Soccer Saturday sackings and says ‘they are best fellas you could ever wish to meet’

CHRIS KAMARA has revealed he was "gutted" when Sky Sports sacked three of Soccer Saturday's regular panel.

Matt Le Tissier, Charlie Nicholas and Phil Thompson were removed from the show last month, as SunSport revealed.

That left just stadium reporter Kamara, 62, host Jeff Stelling, 65, and pundit Paul Merson, 52, as the popular show's mainstays.

Reports suggest Arsenal legend Merson thought about quitting after his pals were sacked, with Stelling also considering his future.

Kamara admitted to his sadness at losing the trio, who had a year left on their Sky contracts.

He told the : "Obviously I’m gutted, absolutely gutted.

"And I know they are. I’ve spoken to Thommo and Charlie and I’ve text Le Tiss… we were such a good team and it was all going well.

"Decisions were made, we don’t have any say in those. Whoever made [them] has done it and the boys accept it.

"I can honestly say they are the best fellas you could ever wish to meet.

"They are top-drawer and it’s been a great time to have worked with them over the past 15 years or so."

'BUILD THE BANTER'

A new regular line-up is thought to be some way from being finalised with live auditions reportedly earmarked for hopefuls.

Fans are eagerly awaiting who might be given a shot to breathe new life into the programme,with Kamara keen to "build the banter".

Claims that the sackings were racially motivated have been criticised - with Ian Wright slamming "racists" who blamed black pundits for the move.

Kamara insists that viewers must not be put off by the speed of "catching up" taking place in television's relationship with diversity.

The former Bradford manager said: "We’re owed a few more diverse faces around certain situations involving football.

"So why not? Let’s see how [they] go.

"Everyone’s got to have an opportunity – I was given an opportunity 22 years ago after getting the sack from Stoke City and 22 years later I’m still there.";

He added: "[The sackings] became a black issue… people were talking diversity and saying, 'They’re being replaced for BAME reasons alone'.

"It took away people from thanking [the trio who have just left], for all they had done.

‘For years and years, [TV] hasn’t been diverse and now it’s slightly catching up.

"That’s what people are offended by - that it’s catching up in a quick sort of way rather than a slow way."