fbpx
Connect with us

Championship

Jeff Stelling hits back at ‘real reason’ he is leaving Sky Sports

Jeff Stelling hits back at the ‘real reason’ he is leaving Sky Sports, taking to Twitter to respond to those headlines emerging.

The Telegraph claim that the 66 year old’s surprise live-on-air decision to quit as Soccer Saturday presenter was motivated by the dismissal of his co-stars, according to a source.

Stelling, who has been with Sky Sports for nearly 30 years, was said to have been furious when Charlie Nicholas, Phil Thompson and Matt Le Tissier were asked to leave the show last year.

Sky Sports to debut first Soccer Saturday panel for new season after  controversial changes - football.london

The unknown source noted that he felt that he had not been consulted properly and felt a sense of loyalty to the trio, while he was already concerned for his own future, along with Chris Kamara.

The reason behind the all-male panel’s departure has not been confirmed by the broadcaster, however many believe that the longstanding line-up did not fit Sky’s diversity aims.

Jeff said last year that the move was like “a Premier League team selling the whole of the midfield two weeks before the start of the season and seeing what happens”.

“Phil, Charlie and Matt were not just colleagues, they were mates, and that means a huge amount to him,” a source told the Telegraph.

“Jeff is believed to have thought of little else other than of leaving since then.

“He has just been waiting for the right opportunity. If the three hadn’t been axed the way they were, Jeff would have stayed on.”

Stelling gave a compelling statement on his time at Sky in a heartfelt message on Saturday’s show.

“I have loved every moment of my 30 years with Sky, but like every Saturday afternoon the time eventually comes to blow the final whistle,” he said.

“I am proud to have been part of such a winning team for so long and look forward to the many more special moments on Soccer Saturday for rest of this season – and perhaps even another promotion push from Hartlepool United.”

Stelling

Sky Managing Director Jonathan Licht echoed his thoughts.

“Jeff is a true broadcasting legend and has been a big part of Sky Sports growth and popularity over the last 30 years,” he said.

“Jeff’s pure passion and dedication to the game has set him apart and made Soccer Saturday a fixture for millions of fans every Saturday afternoon.

“The goals, the laughs, the red cards and the missed red cards have helped create one of the most popular TV shows in sport and Jeff has been the centrepiece of that.”

As mentioned, Jeff Stelling hits back at ‘real reason’ he is leaving Sky Sports, stated via his social media late on Tuesday night: “Just a word. There is no source close to me. Journalism used to involve standing stories up.”

Here’s how fans reacted after hearing both the report, as well as his latest tweet…

@philsull86: Jeff please start your own footy Saturday with the old crew (tiss, thomo & Charlie) I’m sure ye would get the viewers!! And any network with a brain would snap you lot up!! All the best in the future and thanks for the years and years of entertainment and hilarious on a Saturday

@ScottEaglen: We all know what’s happened Jeff, we can put 2 and 2 together.

@Jake82292492: Plz start a show with the old gang when you finish with Sky

@Anthony51905113: Integrity is increasingly rare. Thank you so much for helming the best show on Saturday afternoon for years. Blokes bantering about footy that we couldn’t see made fabulous by you and Kammy and co. Warm banter is worth its weight in gold.

@KariaAmit: Jeff and the crew on YouTube every Saturday…👍

@tempersmith: Get the crew back together sure fire hit

@PaulStonehous15: Switched to BT Sport show when they sacked them.

@RightGuardRich1: He should have gone with them.

@KopGolfer1970: @kelvmackenzie has always been a liar!!! Care to have a debate LIVE on TV/Radio about what actually happened at Hillsboro? I was there in 1988 & 1989 and would rip your so called “journalism” to shreds! #JFT97

@bmc126: When Stelling leaves it’ll be curtains for that show. They all had good banter together, worked perfectly all those years. The show had character. Good on him for leaving

@FarleyP: Ratings certainly gone.

@crae1563: Don’t watch it anymore, like everything else the fun has been removed

@LoyalCPFC_: Imagine thinking Tim Sherwood is better than Phil Thompson

@PaulRobbins1: Good on him. Sick to death of positive discrimination in the ‘spirit’ of balancing the diversity stats. Have the best, most appropriate people reporting, irrespective of race and gender.

@DarrenR28: Stopped watching after they were dismissed. Not the same since. Sky have gone woke and to the left.

@Wisedog_: It’ll be interesting to see the viewing figures of @SoccerSaturday when @JeffStelling goes at the end of the season. Merson, Charlie, Tomo & Tiss wasn’t broken and didn’t need fixing.

@BluesCollective: Too many people want to be lead by others rather than actual facts..if it suits then they’ll report on or believe anything. Sad world

@Lynchian_Dream: See you on DAZN next year, just kidding.

@TONYROB41458149: Maybe just maybe Jeff wants to enjoy his retirement, the show has been the best ever but things move on, enjoy your retirement @JeffStelling

@DaveIcke: I was only considering keeping @skytv because of you and @SoccerAM… when I first had Sky they had all the live matches but the bills have gone up and they have lost loads of live matches….. hope you & the old boys turn up elsewhere and its bye to Sky when my contracts up!

@EfffingTory: Doesn’t mean it didn’t happen though. I’m sure the “source” wouldn’t admit to you that they’d spilled the beans. #justsaying

@ManOfKent17: I don’t blame you for going Jeff. You had a brilliant show & Sky ruined it by going woke, it’s unwatchable now. I’m sure you miss the boys like we do. Female commentators are also dreadful, when will Sky learn that this is not what viewers want.

@nigelba03286584: Team up with Le Tiss, Merse, Charlie & Thommo #puregold

@PD10993: Leaving at the right time, the show is a farce compared to what it was.

@AytoDaniel: He worked for The Sun. Enough said Jeff.

@Simongr99424413: Saturday’s haven’t been the same since the old gang left Jeff and I think you have probably felt it more than most! Massive cock up by Sky getting rid of Tiss, thommo & charlie – take Merse with you & reunite the gang somewhere else – it’s what all the blokes want – sheer gold!

Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

More in Championship