Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan dealt blow as favourite to replace Gary Lineker on Match of the Day emerges
Match of the Day: Gary Lineker could leave the show when his contract expires next year
RESTISFOOTBALL
Earlier this week, Gary Lineker refused to be drawn on his long-term future as Match of the Day presenter.
The 63-year-old has hosted the iconic football show ever since 1999 but, with his contract due to expire, talk of a departure appears to be growing in volume.
Earlier this summer, reports suggesting Lineker is likely to be replaced when his current contract expires next year.
And the former Tottenham, Leicester and Barcelona striker confessed on Wednesday that he was unsure what the future holds.
Match of the Day: Gary Lineker could leave the show when his contract expires next year
RESTISFOOTBALL
“I’ve still got another year left, at least. We’ll have to wait and see what happens," he said when asked how long he'll remain in the job.
For millions around the world, the prospect of Match of the Day without Lineker seems to be a strange one.
Yet with his Rest is Football podcast being a huge hit, it seems increasingly likely that the former England striker will leave the BBC to pursue a new challenge.
When it comes to potential replacements, many fans would be on board with the idea of Mark Chapman or Gabby Logan taking on the gig.
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Chapman would be a natural pick, having regularly presented Match of the Day 2 since 2013.
As would Logan, who has established herself as a fine sports presenter while working for the BBC.
Yet both seem to have suffered a blow, with Bettingexpert.com instead saying that Jermaine Jenas is the favourite.
Jenas is a divisive figure among football fans. Over the weekend, some raged at his takes as he commentated during Liverpool's 2-0 win over Leicester.
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However, the former Tottenham star is currently the 3/1 frontrunner to replace Lineker.
Chapman is second with odds of 4/1, with Logan and Micah Richards both priced at 7.5/1.
Kelly Somers is a dark horse at 8/1, the same odds as Football Focus chief Alex Scott.
And Dan Walker, Alan Shearer and Dion Dublin are all in the running as well.
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Match of the Day: Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman are in the running to replace Gary Lineker
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Meanwhile, amid Lineker's uncertain future, the BBC presenter says he has always enjoyed presenting Match of the Day.
He also opened up on how much the programme has meant to him ever since he was a small child.
"It's been a big part of my life," he said.
Match of the Day: Jermaine Jenas is the favourite to replace Gary Lineker
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"I watched it as a kid. It’s the one night my let me stay up was to watch Match of the Day.
“Because a lot of the population don’t have Sky, TNT or any of the streaming channels, around half of the population get their Premier League fix from Match of the Day.”
“It’s been an absolute privilege to present it for 25 years.”
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