Mark Chapman has reportedly turned down a proposal to share the Match of the Day job with Kelly Somers.
Chapman, who hosts Match of the Day 2 on Sunday nights, was chosen by BBC Director of Sport Alex Kay-Jelski to replace Gary Lineker, who is stepping down at the end of this season.
But according to The Sun, the Beeb want Chapman and Somers to share the role – a proposal which Chapman has ‘flatly refused’.
‘Chappers’ would rather have the job for himself but Kay-Jelski is pushing for split duties between the 51-year-old and Somers, who proved herself while presenting Euro 2024 coverage during the summer.
The MOTD hot seat has become available for the first time since 1999 after BBC bosses revealed that Lineker will be stepping down at the end of the season. The former England international is the longest-serving host of the nation’s flagship football highlights show since it first aired 60 years ago but his lucrative contract has only been extended for another 18 months.
That period covers the rest of this campaign, before Lineker cuts down dramatically on his broadcasting duties and accepts a significantly lower wage.
The 63-year-old is currently the BBC’s highest-paid employee on a whopping £1.35million per year. But that figure will take a hit when Lineker vacates the MOTD post to lead the broadcaster’s FA Cup coverage in 2025/26, and then bows out after the next World Cup.
Negotiations are said to have dragged on for weeks, and Lineker would reportedly have been open to continuing as MOTD host on lower pay, suggesting he has been forced out by Kay-Jelski and co.
It remains to be seen whether Chapman’s refusal to share the role prompts the BBC to head in a different direction. Gabby Logan, Kelly Cates, Alex Scott, Dan Walker and Micah Richards are among the other figures touted to be in the running.
As part of a statement released by the BBC on Tuesday, Kay-Jelski said: “Gary is a world-class presenter, and we’re delighted that he’ll lead our coverage of the next World Cup and continue to lead our live coverage of the FA Cup.
“After 25 seasons Gary is stepping down from MOTD. We want to thank him for everything he has done for the show, which continues to attract millions of viewers each week. He’ll be hugely missed on the show but we’re so happy he is staying with the BBC to present live football.”
