Mark Chapman has finally responded to speculation after emerging as the frontrunner to replace Gary Lineker as the next host of Match of the Day.
Lineker, 63, confirmed on Monday he would leave the football show at the end of the season after 25 years as a presenter – despite reportedly offering to give up £350,000 of his £1.35million salary to to stay in the role.
BBC Sport boss Alex Kay-Jelski is determined to revamp the show and has apparently rejected Lineker’s offer, sparking a race to replace him.
One idea floated was that Chapman, the current host of Match of the Day 2, would share presenting duties with 33-year-old Kelly Somers, or even form a rotating cast with Gabby Logan, Alex Scott and Kelly Cates .
Now ‘Chappers’, the bookies’ second favorite after 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 candidate for the next Match of the Day presenter and has responded to speculation
Gary Lineker has been presenting the program for 25 years, but will stop at the end of the season
Chapman spoke with Gabby Logan, co-host of Sports Agent and fellow touted MOTD presenter
After the 51-year-old’s phone started ringing, Logan took the opportunity to make fun of her colleague.
She said, “I know, yes. That’s the BBC, Match of the Day.’
Chapman replied, “Haha! I tell you what, honestly I don’t know what it’s like for you right now, but damn, I could use a PA right now.”
It comes after the veteran BBC presenter reportedly refused to share the hosting job 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 said The sun.
“It would basically be a division of labor and they would alternate hosting duties between them. Mark has made it clear within the MOTD team that he would not want to do this.
‘He doesn’t want a division of labour, he wants Gary’s role as his own, which is understandable. It’s a headache for the BBC because they thought they had found an easy solution. It’s back to the drawing board and negotiations are underway.”
The broadcaster currently works within the BBC on Radio 5 Live and presents the Sunday version of the show – Match of the Day 2.
According to reports, ‘Chappers’ isn’t keen on the idea of swapping 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 presenter of their Carabao Cup coverage, and he is also a regular podcast presenter.
In 25 years he was at the helm of the BBC’s flagship football programme, Lineker provided some memorable moments for the program and the audience, including presenting the show in his underpants as part of a bet following his Leicester side’s shock win in the Premier League in 2016.
“Broadcaster Gary Lineker will step down as presenter of the flagship football program Match of the Day at the end of this season, BBC News understands,” the BBC wrote on Monday evening.
His contract with the BBC expires at the end of this season, but he has been given an eighteen-month extension. However, this does not include the Match of the Day anchoring duties.
Lineker is the BBC’s highest-paid presenter with a salary of £1.35million and his departure closes a long chapter for one of the country’s most iconic shows.
The 1986 World Cup Golden Boot winner was criticized last summer when he described England’s performance against Denmark in a 1-1 draw as ‘s***’.
His comments drew retaliation from Harry Kane, who responded to attacks from pundits who knew what it’s like to ‘wear the shirt’.
Lineker also currently presents a hugely successful podcast alongside fellow Match of the Day experts Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, and will continue to do so once he leaves the program at the end of the season.
However, the 63-year-old will continue to present 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 in 1999
Lineker and his new boss, BBC sports director Alex Kay-Jelski, began talks with the broadcaster six weeks ago but no contract was offered
Lineker will leave the company completely after the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States at the age of 65, as first reported by MailOnline in October.
In a statement from the company, they said: ‘The BBC and Gary Lineker have agreed in principle to a contract extension through to the 2026 World Cup.
‘Gary will lead coverage of the tournament as England look to once again win a first major trophy since 1966, the other home nations look to qualify and Lionel Messi looks 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 after lifting the trophy as a player.
‘After a quarter of a century, Gary will step down as host of 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.”