Jeff Stelling makes stance clear on Soccer Saturday decision after snub
The iconic Jeff Stelling stepped down from his role as host of Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday in 2023, and was upset to see his preferred replacement snubbed
by Ben Crawford · The MirrorJeff Stelling has explained why he believed Julian Warren was the perfect man to replace him on Soccer Saturday.
Stelling initially announced his intention to step down from the beloved show in 2022 before making a dramatic U-turn. He then quit for good in 2023, much to the disappointment of the football public at large.
Finding a replacement for such an iconic figure would not prove easy, although many believed Julian Warren – long-time presenter of the show's midweek cousin, Soccer Special – should be the man to step into Stelling's shoes. However, despite Stelling's own feelings, the job of replacing him went to Simon Thomas – an esteemed broadcaster in his own right who also has a long association with Sky Sports.
While Stelling is a big fan of Thomas, who continues to anchor the show, the 69-year-old has admitted that he believes Warren was the right man to replace him at the time of his departure.
“Julian Warren was apparently told by telephone that he would not be replacing me on Soccer Saturday,” Stelling claims in his new autobiography, Saturday Afternoon Fever.
“He had been presenting Soccer Specials and standing in for me on Saturdays for ten years. He is a consummate broadcaster. Prepared, eloquent, informed and liked by everyone at Soccer Saturday.
“His experience would have been invaluable in those early chaotic weeks of a new season, which at times was – and I take no pleasure in saying this – car crash television. Possibly the nadir came when we heard a 20 second description of West Ham winning their opening day fixture at Bournemouth, when the pictures and score caption on screen told a different story.”
Stelling references an opening day blunder made by the programme as West Ham's 1-1 draw against Bournemouth was described for some time as a 1-0 win.
“The blame for that, by the way, does not lie just with the presenter,” Stelling continued. “Julian was told apparently that he had not interviewed well enough! The powers that be knew I felt he was the right man for the job, but as was becoming the norm, that counted for nothing.
“My eventual replacement, Simon Thomas, is a friend and, more importantly, a very good broadcaster who deserves some breaks after the terrible personal tragedy he suffered with the death of his wife.
“I just felt Julian had done his time, and I did not understand why he was being overlooked. He still performs superbly on midweek Soccer Specials.”
Fan favourite Stelling hasn’t completely left punditry, however. He regularly appears on the radio for talkSPORT, hosting their breakfast show two days a week.
Saturday Afternoon Fever by Jeff Stelling (Headline, £22)
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