ONE of Scotland’s top television presenters has been named among the leading candidates to be the next host of Match of the Day.
Gary Lineker will step down from his role as the frontman to the iconic BBC programme at the end of this season and then quit the Beeb for good after the 2026 World Cup.
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The 63-year-old England legend will have hosted MOTD for 25 years by the time he leaves.
He will continue to host the BBC’s FA Cup coverage as well as the World Cup in 18 months’ time – but on a substantially lower wage.
Speculation is rife over who will replace Lineker and SunSport has revealed that early discussions between Mark Chapman and the Beeb haven’t gone down well after he was asked about a potential job share with fellow presenter Kelly Somers.
New BBC Sport director Alex Kay-Jelski is keen on having two people rotate in the hot seat but current MOTD 2 host Chapman has vetoed the arrangement.
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A source said: “It’s a headache for the BBC.”
Chapman is the bookies’ favourite to succeed Lineker but other well-known names have appeared in the frame.
According to Ladbrokes, one of them is Gabby Logan, a veteran of sports broadcasting and the wife of Scotland rugby icon Kenny Logan. She is at 4/1.
Kelly Cates, who has been on Sky Sports for years and is the daughter of Kenny Dalglish, is also prominent in the betting at 5/1.
Former England Women international-turned presenter Alex Scott is at 6/1 and at the same price is Scots broadcaster Eilidh Barbour.
The St Johnstone superfan is popular with viewers north of the border thanks to her work covering the Scottish Premiership for Sky and has also done her fair share of national coverage too.
Barbour has worked for both Sky and the BBC during her career and has covered multiple sports including football and golf, on radio as well as TV.
Her big break came at the presenter for STV’s rugby highlights over a decade ago and she then gained national attention as a reporter for the BBC’s Final Score programme.
Candidates to replace Gary Lineker on MOTD
Mark Chapman 6/4
Gabby Logan 4/1
Kelly Cates 5/1
Alex Scott 6/1
Eilidh Barbour 6/1
Odds courtesy of Ladbrokes
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