One of the most popular sports broadcasters of his generation is to remain at Sky Sports after initially saying he’d quit at the end of the current football season.
Last October, Jeff Stelling said he would step down in October from Sky Sports, after 30 years with Sky. The broadcaster was said to have been angered at the forced departure of panellists Charlie Nicholas, Phil Thompson and Matt Le Tissier from the Soccer Saturday panel.
Stelling now says he’ll remain with the award-winning Soccer Saturday until at least the end of the 2022/23 season.
“Sky Sports is my home, and the Soccer Saturday team are a big part of my life,” said Stelling. “As the end of the season approached, and I was preparing to say goodbye, I realised that I was not ready to blow the final whistle and leave the best job in the world.
“I am thrilled to be staying, and excited about moving the show forward and creating more special Saturday afternoons on Sky Sports.”
Jonathan Licht, Managing Director of Sky Sports said: “Football fans everywhere will be delighted that Jeff will continue to host Soccer Saturday.
“He is a massive part of Saturday afternoon life and everyone at Sky Sports shares the joy this news will bring.”
It had been suggested that Sky had approached Mark Chapman, the presenter of the BBC’s Match of the Day 2, programme.
