Caroline Barker vs Simon Thomas tale of the tape: How do Jeff Stelling’s Soccer Saturday replacement candidates compare?

CHOOSING Jeff Stelling’s successor to present Sky Sport’s Soccer Saturday might be the toughest decision in football – off the pitch anyway.

And not just for the broadcasting bosses – who, in the next few days, will pick a new name for a new era.

SunSport exclusively revealed that just two names, Caroline Barker and Simon Thomas, are left in the race – both well respected and offering plenty of experience.

But they know Stelling was that rare thing in a sport and the modern world of social media – a legend who unites opinion positively.

Fans love his wit, modesty, passion and knowledge from National League up to International superstars – a  sort of extraordinary everyman.

So how do Barker and Thomas measure up when it comes to following the great affection Stelling was held in for 29 years?

Barker, 42, is the sporting all-rounder who has reached the top after starting in local radio.

Thomas, 50, launched his broadcasting career in 1999 as Blue Peter presenter before switching to Sky Sports six years later.

Insiders have told the Sun he is the slight favourite.

And if he does replace Stelling, few sporting presenters will have dabbled in more outdoor adventures than the man from Norwich.

BETTING SPECIAL – BEST NO DEPOSIT CASINO OFFERS

He reportedly needed three applications to finally get the Blue Peter position, having previously been a runner for Children’s BBC and radio station LBC.

And in his six years with the the BBC’s flagship children’s programme, he ran the London Marathon twice, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and undertook more than 40 solo dives with the RAF.

He even ran the 60 metres at the Norwich Union Indoor Athletics against top sprinters  Frankie Fredericks and Darren Campbell.

But Thomas topped all that by presenting the late Queen with a Gold Blue Peter Badge.

He emerged at Sky Sports 18 years ago, first alongside Sky Sports News with Georgie Thompson.

Since then he’s switched sports for Cricket AM and Ryder Cup coverage.

But he’s focused on footie after becoming lead presenter for Sky’s live Football League coverage in 2010.

League Cup presenting followed four years later, then the Premier League two years later.

That means he’s comfortable working with big-name pundits like Graeme Souness, Jamie Redknapp and Thierry Henry.

In contrast, Barker has what might be considered a more orthodox background.

She worked for BBC Essex and BBC London, before presenting on World Service and Radio 5 live, including the 2019 Women’s World Cup

And her banter credentials soared when she was named “Rookie of the Year” for 5 Live’s sports comedy show Fighting Talk in 2015.

She now hosts Sky’s The Totally Football League Show, as well as other football work for the broadcaster.

And as an avowed fan of non-League football, it appears she is one up on Thomas for her know-how on all levels of the game, especially as she was a director at hometown club Chelmsford City from 2009-2011.

She’s led BBC and Sky coverage of netball, having also hosted darts shows.

Now she’s waiting to see if she hits the bullseye ahead of Thomas in the battle for the role with arguably most street-cred in football.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk