Gary Lineker bluntly told Alan Shearer that he would not be taking over from him as the new host of Match of the Day, speaking on the show for the first time since the BBC confirmed his exit from the programme.
Lineker will stop presenting MOTD at the end of the season, calling an end on a 25-year stint as host, causing speculation over who could replace the former England striker.
Beginning the show, Shearer somberly said that “all good things must come to an end” regarding Lineker’s departure, only for the host to interject with his own jibe.
While another regular on the show, Micah Richards, has similarly ruled himself out of stepping into Lineker’s shoes and branded the speculation “disrespectful”.
“When people are saying ‘Micah Richards [is] potentially going to take over the presenter job’, I feel like it’s a massive disrespect to all the presenters out there,” he said on The Rest Is Football podcast. “There are so many talented people [linked to the position].
“Just because I’m a pundit, I can give insight into a player, I feel I know the game, I watch tactics. But to take over presenting one of the most iconic shows, not just in sport, but that the BBC has ever had [would be a different kettle of fish].”
West Ham striker Michail Antonio, a guest on the podcast with Richards and Lineker, joked that “Micah’s trying to take your job”.
Only for Lineker to echo Richards’ sentiments in a priceless way, replying: “Micah, you can totally relax. I can assure you they won’t be asking you.”
But without his pundit colleagues willing to trade in their roles to become MOTD presenter, a gap is there to be filled and the Beeb have a very important decision to make for the future of the show.