Mark Chapman has finally responded to speculation after emerging as a frontrunner to replace Gary Lineker as the next host of Match of the Day.
Lineker, 63, confirmed on Monday that he was leaving the flagship football show at the end of the season after 25 years as its presenter – despite reportedly offering to give up £350,000 of his £1.35million salary to stay in the role.
BBC Sport boss Alex Kay-Jelski is determined to refresh the show and seemingly declined Lineker’s offer, sparking a race to replace him.
One idea put forward was for Chapman, the current host of Match of the Day 2, to share presenting duties with Kelly Somers, 33, or even form a revolving cast with Gabby Logan, Alex Scott and Kelly Cates.
Now ‘Chappers’, who is the bookies’ second favourite behind Scott to take over the gig, has broken his silence while chatting with co-host Logan on the pair’s podcast The Sports Agents.
Mark Chapman is a contender for next Match of the Day host and has responded to speculation
Gary Lineker has presented the programme for 25 years but is quitting at the end of the season
Chapman was speaking to Sports Agent co-host and fellow touted MOTD host Gabby Logan
After the 51-year-old’s phone started ringing on air, Logan took the chance to poke fun at her colleague.
She said: ‘I know, yeah. That’s the BBC, Match Of The Day.’
Chapman responded: ‘Haha! I tell you what, honestly, I don’t know what it’s like for you at the moment, but b***** hell, I could do with a PA at the moment.’
It comes after the veteran BBC presenter reportedly refused to share the job as host with another star.
‘As soon as Gary’s deal was done, Alex [Kay-Jelski] made it clear he wanted Mark and Kelly [Sommers] to replace him,’ a source told The Sun.
‘It would effectively be a job share and they would rotate hosting duties between them. Mark has made it clear within the team at MOTD that this isn’t something he would want to do.
‘He doesn’t want a job share, he wants Gary’s role as his own, which is understandable. It’s a headache for the BBC because they thought they’d found an easy solution. It’s back to the drawing board and negotiations are ongoing.’
The broadcaster currently works within the BBC on Radio 5 Live and presents the Sunday version of the show – Match of the Day 2.
Reports claim ‘Chappers’ is not keen on the idea of rotating the role with Kelly Somers
Lineker (pictured on Tuesday) will no longer present Match of the Day after this season
Chapman also works with Sky Sports as the presenter of their Carabao Cup coverage, and he is also a regular podcast host.
In 25 years at the helm of the BBC’s flagship football programme, Lineker brought a number of memorable moments to the programme and its audience, for example presenting the show in his underpants as part of a wager following his Leicester side’s shock Premier League win in 2016.
‘Broadcaster Gary Lineker is to step down as host of flagship football programme Match of the Day at the end of this season, BBC News understands,’ the BBC wrote on Monday evening.
His contract with the BBC finishes at the end of this season but he has been given an 18-month extension. However, that will not include Match of the Day anchoring duties.
Lineker is the BBC’s highest-paid presenter with a salary of £1.35million and his exit will close a long chapter for one of the nation’s most iconic shows.
The 1986 World Cup Golden Boot winner came in for criticism over the summer when he described England’s performance against Denmark in a 1-1 draw as ‘s***’.
His comments earned a retaliation from Harry Kane, who hit out at attacks from pundits who knew what it is like to ‘wear the shirt’.
Lineker currently also presents a hugely successful podcast alongside fellow Match of the Day pundits Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, and will continue to do so once he departs the programme at the end of the season.
The 63-year-old will however keep presenting The Rest is Football podcast with Alan Shearer (left) and Micah Richards (centre) which the BBC will now offer on their own Sounds app
The former England striker first started presenting the iconic highlights show back in 1999
Lineker and his new boss BBC’s director of sport, Alex Kay-Jelski, started talks with the broadcaster six weeks ago, but no contract was offered
Lineker will leave the corporation altogether after the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States when he is 65, as first reported by MailOnline in October.
In a statement released by the company, they said: ‘The BBC and Gary Lineker have agreed in principle a contract extension through to the 2026 World Cup.
‘Gary will lead the coverage of the tournament, as England once again try to land a first major trophy since 1966, the other Home Nations look to qualify and Lionel Messi aims to retain the trophy he won with Argentina.
‘Gary will also host BBC Sport’s coverage of the FA Cup in the 2025-26 season, 35 years on from lifting the trophy as a player.
‘After a quarter of a century, Gary is stepping down from hosting Match of The Day at the end of this season. He will continue with the MOTD Top Ten podcast and the BBC will also host the hugely popular The Rest is Football podcast on BBC Sounds.’
