BBC silent over Gary Lineker 'email' saying he will leave Match of the Day

The England legend has been on the BBC hit show for 25 years and is the BBC's best paid presenter

The BBC has declined to comment on a leaked draft 'email' that reportedly announces Gary Lineker will leave Match of the Day. The Daily Mail said it had been shown an 'email' that included a draft statement.

It allegedly said that today, Saturday, October 5, would be the former England striker's final appearance as host of Match of the Day. The Mail said the message could not be verified, but the BBC did not comment on whether the 'email' was a fake, despite replying to say nothing had been agreed and saying Lineker was under contract until the end of the season.

The 'email' claimed to be by the BBC's new director of sport, Alex Kay-Jelski. It announced Lineker’s departure with a comment from director general Tim Davie that hailed an “incredible” career from a “world-class presenter”.

Lineker has been with the show for 25 years. Last season, he became embroiled in a row over his views on government immigration policy that saw the show go off air for one episode.

The former Spurs and Barcelona striker has declined to comment. The Times reports that he told a reporter outside his house to “f*** off”.

Lineker is the BBC's best paid presenter, earning £1.35m. The Times reports that the leak has seen the BBC go into “witch-hunt mode”. A source told the paper senior figures at Broadcasting House were in “a flat spin about where this had come from” - rather than denying the 'email' was genuine.

Lineker is reportedly in talks with the BBC’s chiefs as his contract expires at the end of the 2024-25 season. BBC staff told the Times they were baffled by the reports.

They said removing a star mid-contract was “not the BBC way at all”. The paper said the 'email' has unsettled staff, even sparking rumours that negotiations have gone badly.

“Staffers feel it would be strange for such an esteemed broadcaster to leave so early into the football season, and not receive a big send-off — just like veteran pundit Ian Wright experienced last May,” one told the Daily Mail.

“This has only intensified feelings there may have been another fallout within the ranks, and it’s increasingly unsettling for everybody involved. Nobody is being told anything, but there is a sense something big is happening behind the scenes and when it drops, many people will be affected.”

Lineker said recently about the job: “I love doing it at the moment” - adding it was a “privilege” to present MOTD for so long. A BBC spokesman said: “We have nothing to announce and we have not agreed next steps with regard to his contract. He is under contract until the end of the season.”