More stories

  • in

    New favourite lined up to replace Gary Lineker as Match of the Day host after Jermaine Jenas sacked by BBC

    THE BBC have lined up a new replacement for Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker, it’s been claimed.The former Everton and England hitman, who succeeded Des Lynham, has been at the helm of the MOTD ship for a whopping 25 years.Gary Lineker’s days as Match of the Day presenter are coming to an endCredit: BBCJermaine Jenas was the front-runner to replace Lineker before the Beeb axed him for his sexting scandalCredit: BBCMark Chapman is reportedly now the favourite to succeed LinekerCredit: GETTYBut his long-term future with the Beeb remains in doubt following the public backlash to his likening of the former Conservative Government migrant policy to “Germany in the ’30s”.Jermaine Jenas was long seen as the successor to the MOTD hot seat but is out of the running after being AXED by the Beeb for his sexting scandal, which SunSport exclusively revealed.And the Britsh broadcasting powerhouse has reportedly pivoted to a presenter already in their ranks to replace Lineker.That’s according to The Times, who claim Mark Chapman is the new frontrunner to succeed Lineker.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSChapman, of course, is already well known to footie fans as he presents Match of the Day 2 on Sundays, a role he’s had since 2013.The 50-year-old is also a presenter on Radio 5 Live and recently became the face of the BBC’s new Champions League highlights show.Chapman’s new gig is set to get underway next week when Europe’s elite club competition kicks off.And The Times claims Chapman’s latest appointment is the reason why he’s the favourite to replace Lineker.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSMark Chapman has presented Match of the Day 2 for the last 11 yearsCredit: BBCThe potential appointment of Chapman as Lineker’s eventual replacement doesn’t come as a surprise.Lineker, however, viewed the disgraced Jenas – whose marriage is on the rocks after his inappropriate work-related behaviour – as his eventual successor.Gary Lineker reveals how his views on Match of the Day can sometimes get him into trouble The 63-year-old said last year: “Jermaine Jenas – who is probably drifting more towards my role.”I think Jermaine is doing it really well as well, doing The One Show.”When asked Micah Richards if he was nervous about Jenas replacing him, he replied: “Nervous? ‘”I’m ancient. My time is nearly up.” More

  • in

    Jermaine Jenas will NOT work for TNT Sports this month after he is sacked by BBC over ‘unsolicited texts’

    JERMAINE JENAS will NOT be working for TNT Sports this month following his axing from The BBC.SunSport exclusively revealed this week that the former Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and England midfielder has been fired from the national broadcaster due to alleged “inappropriate behaviour”.Jermaine Jenas has been axed by the BBC over alleged “inappropriate behaviour”Credit: GETTYJenas’ Beeb axing has raised questions over his future with TNT SportsCredit: PAJenas is currently not slated to be on TNT Sports for the next few weeksCredit: GettyJenas was sacked after a female member of staff on The One Show claimed she received “unsolicited texts” from the 41-year-old.The Beeb have launched a probe into the allegations, which have raised questions about his punditry duties with TNT.And according to The Mirror, TNT currently don’t have Jenas “pencilled in for games over the next few weeks”.TNT have yet to release a statement on the allegations made against Jenas, who was part of their broadcast team for Liverpool’s trip to Ipswich last Saturday.READ MORE ON JERMAINE JENASThe allegations against Jenas have likely ended his dream of succeeding Gary Lineker as Match of the Day host.Jenas’ axing comes just weeks after the Beeb announced an independent review into its workplace culture in light of the Strictly Come Dancing scandal.A well-placed source told The Sun: “This is a categorical nightmare for the BBC.”Complaints were raised concerning Jermaine’s behaviour.Most read in FootballJermaine Jenas is understood to be “devastated” by his BBC axingCredit: GETTY”After some immediate routine enquiries, the decision was taken to take him off air, and terminate his contract.”The BBC’s new Director of Sport Alex Kay-Jelski has been heavily involved in this whole process, and is adamant that his new house is firmly in order, and there are no skeletons.Jermaine Jenas SACKED by BBC from Match of the Day & The One Show over ‘inappropriate behaviour’”At present, the feeling is he won’t be back on the BBC.”Jenas was live on talkSPORT when news of his sacking broke, although he declined to provide an in-depth comment on his dismissal.The married dad-of-four said “I can’t really talk about it. As you can probably see, I’m not happy about it.”But currently as it stands I’m going to have to let the lawyers deal with it.”There’s two sides… that’s all I can say now.”The retired midfielder later added: “I’m not happy about this situation.”I’m going to be speaking to my lawyers about it, is all I can say right now.” More

  • in

    Gary Lineker drops huge hint over who will replace him as Match of the Day host with cheeky ‘later’ remark to pundit

    GARY LINEKER has dropped a huge hint as to who will eventually replace him as the host of Match of the Day.The veteran presenter, 62, hinted that it will be Jermaine Jenas to step into the hotseat when he decides the time is right to step down.
    Lineker has hosted the show for nearly 24 yearsCredit: BBC
    But Jermaine Jenas is the favourite to replace him when he eventually stands asideCredit: Getty – Contributor
    Lineker will celebrate his 24th anniversary of presenting the show later this month and has previously said his time presenting the BBC’s flagship football show is “nearly up”.
    Jenas has been the long-running favourite to eventually replace Lineker.
    He previously presented Match of the Day’s spin-off show MOTDX, which was recently cancelled after four years.
    He’s also strengthened his presenting chops by hosting the One Show alongside Alex Jones.
    READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
    Jenas appeared on last night’s MOTD as a pundit alongside Ashley Williams when the hint was dropped.
    When analysing Everton’s 3-2 victory over Crystal Palace, Jenas asked Lineker what he thought about a penalty incident in the game and said: “I always like to get the striker’s opinion”
    After giving his verdict, Lineker said: “You want this job?”
    Jenas awkwardly replied with a smile: “No, no, not yet,” to which the legendary presenter simply said while looking across at him: “Later.”
    Most read in Football
    CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
    Jenas, 40, has made no secret of his desire to present Match of the Day in the past, previously telling The Daily Mail: “I would obviously be up for it.
    “It’s Match of the Day and it would be a great opportunity.” More

  • in

    Jermaine Jenas lined up for shock new role on TV after MOTDx axing – but fans of the show aren’t impressed

    JERMAINE JENAS has emerged as a surprise candidate to host Formula E coverage in the UK – leaving fans reeling.This comes as MOTDx was axed by the BBC last week.
    Jermaine Jenas could land himself a new presenting role in motorsportCredit: Getty
    The former Tottenham and Newcastle midfielder has built a rather stacked TV portfolio since hanging up his boots in 2014.
    He’s worked as a football pundit for TNT Sports (formerly BT Sport), but is now a regular guest on Match of the Day as well as being co-host of the BBC’s early-evening staple The One Show.
    Jenas fronted a spin-off version of the iconic highlights show, MOTDx, which was aimed at a younger audience but was recently cancelled by the Beeb.
    A BBC spokesperson said: “Whilst we are proud of MOTDx and would like to thank everyone involved, it will no longer continue.”
    READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
    And now it appears Jenas could be about to branch out into motorsport.
    The Race reported that whoever buys the broadcasts rights for Formula E will consider him for their lead presenter role.
    But fans of the electric car version of Formula 1 are not happy about it.
    One furious user wrote: “Jermaine Jenas? He’s not done much in the field of motorsports. He’s there for the perks and money.”
    Most read in Motorsport
    FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS AND BONUSES NEW CUSTOMERS
    Another added: “No offence but if I’ve got to listen to Jermaine Jenas presenting Formula E I’m going to lose the plot.”
    A third said: “But he’s a football pundit. Does he have any technical knowledge of the sport?”
    Another fumed: Good God. How to kill the coverage.”
    Formula E is looking for a new broadcast host following the conclusion of it’s two-year deal with Channel 4.
    The main problem the sport must solve is its lack of exposure in the UK in recent years.
    Some races were shown on Channel 4’s TV platforms last season, but many were limited to live streams on the broadcaster’s YouTube channels.
    TNT Sport is in line to get the new contract, but that means fans may be alienated by the paywall. More

  • in

    Fans all say same thing as Hollywood A-listers Reese Witherspoon and Ashton Kutcher interviewed before live FA Cup draw

    FOOTBALL fans were left bemused after Reese Witherspoon and Ashton Kutcher were interviewed before the FA Cup draw.The Hollywood actors appeared on The One Show to discuss their upcoming film Your Place or Mine.
    Reese Witherspoon and Ashton Kutcher were asked about investing in a football clubCredit: BBC
    Fans were bemused by the build-up to the FA Cup fifth round drawCredit: BBC
    But presenters Alex Jones and Jermaine Jenas also asked the actors about football ahead of the fifth-round draw.
    Witherspoon shared her love for Arsenal while Kutcher revealed he almost invested in a Premier League side last month.
    Kutcher said: “‘I’m a big United States soccer fan… but I do watch Premier League and I actually came very close to investing in a Premier League team in the last month.”
    Witherspoon was asked if she would invest and she replied saying: “Well if there’s space at Arsenal, all my sons, everybody would be really really excited because that’s our favourite team.
    READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
    “We watched the game the other day it was bananas, that’s our team.”
    Despite showing some knowledge fans were perplexed by the build-up to the draw.
    One fan said: “Watching Reese Witherspoon and Ashton Kutcher talk ‘soccer’ was pretty excruciating…roll on the 5th round draw please.”
    Another added: “Why have they got Reese Witherspoon and Ashton Kutcher talking before the draw 🧐.”
    Most read in Football
    FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
    A third wrote: “Why should I need to watch Jermaine Jenas talk to Ashton Kutcher to see fa cup draw.”
    And another commented: “I’m sat watching Reese Witherspoon and Ashton Kutcher lie about liking football on The One Show all because I want to see us get drawn away to Stoke in the FA Cup fith round. You’ve won this round BBC.” More

  • in

    When is FA Cup 5th round draw? Date, start time, live stream FREE, TV channel and ball numbers

    THE FA Cup is rolling on at some pace this season.And we’re nearly ready for the big fifth round draw!
    All eyes will be on the fifth round drawCredit: Getty
    Eight ties are being drawnCredit: Getty
    Manchester City beat Arsenal in the marquee tie of the fourth round courtesy of Nathan Ake’s second-half strike.
    And Manchester United will be hoping to replicate their noisy neighbours against former star Paul Ince’s Reading.
    Here is all the information you need for the FA Cup fifth round draw…
    CASINO SPECIAL – BEST ONLINE CASINOS FOR 2023
    When is the FA Cup 5th round draw?
    The FA Cup fifth round draw will take place on Monday, January 30.
    The draw will commence during the One Show on BBC 1 from 7pm.
    Eight ties will be drawn.
    What live stream and TV channel is the FA Cup 5th round draw on?
    The FA Cup fifth round draw will be broadcast on BBC1 on TV.
    And it will be live streamed on the official Emirates FA Cup Twitter and Facebook channels.
    Most read in FA Cup
    What are the FA Cup 5th round draw ball numbers?
    1 Preston North End or Tottenham Hotspur2 Southampton3 Wrexham or Sheffield United4 Ipswich Town or Burnley5 Manchester United or Reading6 Luton Town or Grimsby Town7 Derby County or West Ham United8 Stoke City or Stevenage9 Blackburn Rovers or Birmingham City10 Leicester City11 Sheffield Wednesday or Fleetwood Town12 Manchester City 13 Bristol City14 Brighton & Hove Albion or Liverpool15 Fulham or Sunderland16 Leeds United More

  • in

    When is FA Cup 5th round draw? Date, start time, live stream FREE, TV channel, ball numbers

    THE FA Cup is rolling on at pace this season.And we’re nearly ready for the big fifth round draw!
    All eyes will be on the fifth round drawCredit: Getty
    Eight ties are being drawnCredit: Getty
    And remember, the FA Cup fifth round takes place across the midweek again this season.
    But first the fourth round is amongst us – with Manchester City vs Arsenal the marquee tie.
    While Manchester United host former star Paul Ince’s Reading.
    Here is all the information you need for the FA Cup fifth round draw…
    CASINO SPECIAL – BEST ONLINE CASINOS FOR 2023
    When is the FA Cup 5th round draw?
    The FA Cup fifth round draw will take place on Monday, January 30.
    The draw will commence during the One Show on BBC 1 from 7pm.
    Eight ties will be drawn.
    What live stream and TV channel is the FA Cup 5th round draw on?
    The FA Cup fifth round draw will be broadcast on BBC1 on TV.
    Most read in FA Cup
    And it will be live streamed on the official Emirates FA Cup Twitter and Facebook channels.
    What are the FA Cup 5th round draw ball numbers?
    1 Preston North End or Tottenham Hotspur2 Southampton or Blackpool3 Wrexham or Sheffield United4 Ipswich Town or Burnley5 Manchester United or Reading6 Luton Town or Grimsby Town7 Derby County or West Ham United8 Stoke City or Stevenage9 Blackburn Rovers or Birmingham City10 Walsall or Leicester City11 Sheffield Wednesday or Fleetwood Town12 Manchester City or Arsenal13 Bristol City or West Bromwich Albion14 Brighton & Hove Albion or Liverpool15 Fulham or Sunderland16 Accrington Stanley or Leeds United More