Fresh doubts were raised over Gary Lineker’s future as host of Tonight’s Match of the Day after rumors swirled around the company suggesting his time on the show may be coming to an end.
The presenter, who earns more than any other BBC star, has been the subject of speculation over his future at the broadcaster for months.
Now an email from MailOnline is doing the rounds which seems to indicate that bosses are already preparing a releaseable statement announcing his departure.
It has not been possible to verify the authenticity of the email, but when MailOnline contacted the BBC we were told: ‘We have nothing to announce and we have not yet agreed on the next steps regarding his contract. He has a contract until the end of the season.’
However, when Lineker himself was contacted by MailOnline, he told our reporter outside his home in south-west London: ‘F*** off, I won’t talk to you. Go away.’
Gary Lineker seen outside his home in South West London today
The presenter has been the subject of speculation about his future at the broadcaster for months
Dressed in a blue and green jacket, jeans and sneakers, he then got into a taxi that came to pick him up.
The 63-year-old presenter has reportedly been linked with jobs at rival broadcasters and before his departure under a cloud, Jermaine Jenas was in line to replace the former England captain.
Reports in late September suggested Lineker would hold talks with the BBC this month over a multi-year deal after volunteering to take a pay cut.
It was suggested he would stay at MOTD for £1million a year – £350,000 less than his current salary.
A source was quoted by The Sun: ‘Gary is hugely popular with fans and players alike. The feeling is that, with so much uncertainty and scandal at the BBC, viewers are crying out for safe hands at the moment.
Gary loves the BBC, loves his job and knows what an honor it is to present television’s premier football show, as well as international matches.
‘Gary has long insisted that the BBC offers excellent value for money – and has literally put his money where his mouth is and offered to take a significant pay cut.’
Lineker started his experience at the BBC on 5 Live and Grandstand before taking over as host of Match of the Day in 1999.
He has also presented Sports Personality of the Year, London 2012 and Golf for the company.
Just a few weeks ago, Lineker suggested he would spend “at least another year” at the helm of the BBC’s long-running football show, which celebrated its 60th anniversary in August.
Gary loves the BBC, loves his job and knows what an honor it is to present television’s premier football show
The 63-year-old presenter has reportedly been linked with jobs at rival broadcasters
When asked how long he would continue presenting, he spoke about his future and replied: “I don’t know… it depends on how long they want me, I guess.”
Interviewed by BBC Breakfast’s John Watson in August, he said: ‘I mean, I’m loving doing it at the moment (and) at least I’ve got another year to do it.
‘We’ll have to wait and see what happens. It’s an ever-changing party, football, television and soccer, and Premier League rights and things like that, so all these things will come into play.
‘But I just think it’s a privilege to have been able to present it for 25 years now. I must be getting old.’
Lineker’s time as the face of Match of the Day has been controversial at times, with the presenter temporarily suspended last year for criticizing the government’s asylum policy in a controversially worded tweet.
He returned shortly after a walkout by his MOTD colleagues who showed solidarity with the former England striker, and the row even prompted the Beeb to review a new set of guidelines for its presenters and their use of social media and set up.
Elsewhere in the interview, the BBC’s highest-paid star also explained why the show meant so much to him.
“It’s been a part of my life, a big part of my life from the beginning,” he explained. ‘I watched it as a kid, it was the only night my dad would let me stay up to watch Match of the Day.
‘Because a large proportion of the population don’t have Sky or TNT or any of these streaming channels that show football and the Premier League, I think about half the population gets their Premier League fix from Match of the Day and still does do.’
Lineker became the main presenter of Match of the Day in 1999
He was also asked why he thinks the BBC show continues to attract viewers, to which he replied: ‘I think part of it is to be trusted.
“The longevity of the show, the love for the show. I think people like to see it that way, they like to see the highlights. They are keen to get their Premier League fix from us and hopefully that will continue.”
Lineker’s place as the Beeb’s highest-paid talent is as much of a talking point among critics as his social media antics – and it was something his MOTD predecessor Des Lynam recently branded ‘unwarranted’.
After retiring from football, Lineker’s presenting career began at the BBC, where he presented MOTD, and also worked for Al Jazeera Sports and NBC Sports Network.
With a reported total fortune of £30 million, he is one of Britain’s most notable sporting figures, consistently presenting at major tournaments including the European Championships and the World Cup.
Over the course of his stellar football career, he played 80 times for England and scored 49 goals before retiring in 1994 to enter the media world.
As well as presenting, he signed a three-year £1.2m deal with Walkers Crisps in 2020 and has set up his own podcast production company Goalhanger, which produces podcasts including The Rest is History and The Rest is Politics.
His BBC salary has been reduced since 2019, when he earned 1.75 million, and in 2020 he took a voluntary 23 percent pay cut.
Goalhanger claims to be the UK’s largest independent podcast group, with 17.5 million downloads as of July 2023.
It was founded by Lineker, together with Tony Pastor and Jack Davenport.