Gary Linker's BBC Match of The Day's replacement is an obvious choice, according to Jeff Stelling

Sportscasting icon Jeff Stelling has thrown his weight behind one man for the role of Match of the Day host, following the news of Gary Lineker's impending departure from BBC after a remarkable 25 years. Stelling shared with the Telegraph his preferred choice, stating that Mark Chapman should be the new man in the hot seat.

While acknowledging the present trend where TV programmes are being revamped to entice younger viewers, Stelling, known for helming Soccer Saturday on Sky Sports for nearly three decades, suggests that Chapman, who already helms Match of the Day 2, is perfect for the soon-to-be-vacated spot.

"Chappers is the man for the job. Great presenter, nice sense of humour, good rapport with the guests, he's got to be the man, surely."

Despite stepping away from Sky Sports recently, Stelling remains one of the most respected figures in sports broadcasting and has voiced his concern over the shifting landscape of television, where demographics take centre stage at the expense of the content. He laments the rise of influencers within the industry, placing his preference on substance over style.

"Demographics? I've never bought the stuff about a new demographic," he continued. "It's a forlorn pursuit to look for a younger audience that probably aren't interested in the programme anyway by having younger presenters, influencers, social-media types. I've never believed that was the way forward."

"Call me old-fashioned, but I've always felt the way to attract an audience of any demographic is to make sure you put out a high-quality product. If the programme is watched by mums and dads in their forties, make sure it is good enough so that when the new generation reach their forties it is something they want to watch.", reports the Mirror.

"If I'm going to hear somebody talking about a football match, I'd rather it was somebody who had played the game and is able to see things people like me standing on the terraces can't see, than is a big figure on social media."

The BBC has several candidates rumoured to be in line for Lineker's role. Mark Chapman was reportedly offered the job on a part time basis as a job share with Kelly Somers, but turned it down.

While former England star Lineker has reportedly made his recommendation to the broadcaster, he's kept that counsel closely guarded. Alongside Chapman and Somers, sports personalities such as Alex Scott and Gabby Logan are also in the mix.