Long-time Soccer Saturday presenter Jeff Stelling will leave the programme and Sky Sports at the end of the season, according to a statement read by himself live on Sky today.
The 66 year-old made the announcement live on Saturday’s edition of the programme, which he has hosted since its inception in 1994.
Mr Stelling revealed that he plans to continue working and that he was not being pushed out of the exit door by Sky bosses, saying “it is time to let somebody else have a go at what is the best job in the world.”
His exit will follow the controversial departures of pundits Matt Le Tissier, Charlie Nicholas and Phil Thompson from the programme last year.
Mr Stelling said: “Before we do the team news from Newcastle, I have got some team news from Sky Sports and Soccer Saturday to tell you about.
“I will have been at Sky for 30 years next year, and hosted Soccer Saturday for the past 25 or so – I am not too clever at statistics – but I have come to the decision, an incredibly difficult decision, that this will be my final season.
“It has been my decision. There has been no pressure whatsoever. Sky have been absolutely brilliant with me, as they always always have been.
“I am going to be here until May, and then I am leaving the show and the company so that is about seven months of Saturday afternoon parties, so let’s get this party going.”
