Sky Sports make move to stop Match of the Day replacing Gary Lineker with top target
Gary Lineker is set to leave his role on Match of the Day at the end of the season and Sky Sports star Kelly Cates is a potential candidate to become his successor on the programme
by Scott Trotter · The MirrorSky Sports will battle to retain the services of presenter Kelly Cates should BBC make an approach to make her the Match of the Day host.
Cates is one of a number of candidates in the running to replace Gary Lineker, who will depart from the programme at the end of the 2024/25 season. The 49-year-old broadcaster has worked across Sky, BBC, ITV and channel 4 during her career and will be most recogniseable for leading Premier League coverage on Sky Sports, such as Friday Night Football.
While Cates, daughter of Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish, could prove a tempting option, reports suggest Sky will fight hard to deny BBC of her services on a Saturday evening. The football anchor has already expressed her content with her current balance of work but one of television's most prestiguous roles would be difficult to knock back.
Speaking to The Independent, she said: "Do you know, and you never want to say this, but at the moment I’ve got a really lovely mix of everything. I’ve got TV, live matches, radio, and when it gets towards the end of the season I do live Champions League games too.
"I could be at an Olympics or a World Cup during the summer so the balance of everything feels really nice. But I’m not tempting fate."
Lineker meanwhile is set to bring his stint to an end after more than 25 yeas in Match of the Day's hotseat. With a new highlights deal beginning from next season, and new ambitions for the flagship programme, he believes it is a fitting time to depart.
"It has been an absolute joy and privilege to present such an iconic show for the BBC, but all things have to come to an end," he said on the Rest is Football podcast.
"It came at a point where really the BBC and Match Of The Day, they've got the rights for another three years, the cycle starts from next season so it felt like if I just do one more year it would be a bit weird.
"I bowed out in my football career when I felt it was the right time. I feel this is now the right time. I think the next contract they're looking to do Match Of The Day slightly differently, so I think it makes sense for someone else to take the helm."
In addition to Cates, the likes of Mark Chapman has been heavily linked to the role. Roman Kemp meanwhile has been touted for a new position on the show.
Lineker has steered clear of making a recommendation. "Obviously, I don't know who it'll be, and I would never tell publicly my preference," he said. "I don’t think that’d be the right thing to do – but whoever it is, I would say be yourself.
"I had to fill the ginormous shoes of certain Des Lynam. I would say just be yourself and enjoy it, it's a wonderful programme to be a part of. It was brilliant before I took over, and it will be brilliant after I leave."
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