Sky Sports are seeking an internal replacement to take over from Jeff Stelling as host of their flagship Soccer Saturday programme.
Stelling will leave his role after 30 years with the broadcaster, including 25 years fronting their results show. It is the second time Stelling has announced his departure, though he appears adamant that this year he will definitely be leaving.
Sky have already begun the process of finding his replacement, having also conducted a search last year. But it seems the broadcaster has changed their stance from last year's search and are now eyeing making a cheap appointment to take over from Stelling.
According to the Daily Mail, Stelling's replacement will be an internal appointment. Sky are undergoing a major cost-cutting process after losing nine per cent of their UK subscribers last year.
A number of their football reporters, including veteran Geoff Shreeves, are facing redundancy. As a result, bringing in a big-money external replacement for Stelling is seen as being 'inappropriate'.
That would appear to knock Mark Chapman out of the running to take on the job. The Match of the Day 2 host had been approached by Sky when Stelling first announced his exit last year, but he now appears set to stay at the BBC.
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Instead of Chapman, it is thought that existing staff members Julian Warren and Adam Smith are the frontrunners to replace Stelling. Warren already deputises for Stelling on midweek editions of Soccer Saturday, while Smith formerly hosted Soccer AM.
Stelling first joined Sky in 1992 and announced his departure during last weekend's edition of Soccer Saturday. With the season approaching its end, that show was the last six-hour edition of the programme Stelling will host.
The veteran broadcaster has insisted that the time is right to move on and allow someone else to take on the role. Sky's director of football Gary Hughes paid tribute to Stelling and admitted he would be "sorely missed".
"After a brilliant 30+ year career at Sky, including over 25 years as the much-loved host of Soccer Saturday, Jeff Stelling is leaving Sky Sports at the end of the current football season," he said.
"Jeff has been synonymous with Saturday afternoon football for decades, exciting and enthusing football fans everywhere. His unique broadcasting ability and passion for the game has made Soccer Saturday an unmissable fixture for fans and has won him a multitude of awards.
"He will be sorely missed. Sky Sports will give him the great send off his remarkable and enduring contribution deserves before he leaves us at the end of May to spend more Saturdays with his beloved Hartlepool United."
