Gary Lineker's plans after Match Of The Day, replacement wish and stern BBC warning

As Gary Lineker's Match of the Day exit is confirmed by the BBC, PR expert Mayah Riaz weighs in on the pundit's replacement and gives an insight into his next move

Gary Lineker's replacement could make or break Match of the Day, a PR expert tells the Mirror.

After weeks of tense negotiations, the BBC has confirmed that the long-serving pundit will leave the flagship football programme after 25 years. However, Lineker will stay with the broadcaster to cover the 2026 Fifa World Cup and continue to host his The Rest is Football podcast on the BBC Sounds app.

Attention has now turned to who will replace Lineker with Match of the Day 2 favourite Mark Chapman, stalwart sports presenter Gabby Logan and Football Focus star Alex Scott in the running. And now PR expert Mayah Riaz has stressed the next host could "destroy the magic of the show" if they aren't the right fit.

Speaking to the Mirror, the PR to the stars said replacing Lineker will be "challenging" for the BBC. Mayah explained: "Gary has been the face of MOTD for decades, therefore, his replacement would need to bring a balance of deep football knowledge and the kind of charisma that makes MOTD resonate with audiences."

Chapman, Logan and Scott each bring "different strengths", Mayah said, adding that "someone with Alex's versatility or Mark's hosting experience could continue the show's legacy". However, his replacement has big shoes to fill. Mayah said: "Gary has bags of personality, so the BBC will be looking for someone who can carry the immense popularity he has built over decades.

The crisis management expert added: "I have to stress that they do need to be careful who they replace him with, otherwise it could destroy the magic of the show." Given Lineker's longstanding role with MOTD, Mayah said his departure is a "major shift for the BBC and a significant personal transition for him".

But what about Gary's future? Mayah believes the former England star has a realm of possibilities outside of MOTD and can smoothly move over to wider streaming platforms if he desires. She said: "Gary is a seasoned broadcaster and as a public figure, he has crafted a well-defined brand, which gives him options beyond MOTD. His successful podcast, The Rest is Football, shows he can pivot effectively into digital and streaming platforms if he decides to leave traditional broadcast media."

The PR expert noted that Gary had been in negotiations about his contract for several weeks before the decision was made. She said: "Gary wanted to stay at MOTD if he could be offered the right contract. However, the BBC had other plans. Which suggests that he may want to continue in a similar role. In which case, due to his strong brand appeal, he could attract lucrative offers from sports streaming platforms seeking experienced hosts for football coverage."

Alex Kay-Jelski, the BBC's new director of sport, said in a statement: "Gary is a world-class presenter, and we're delighted that he'll lead our coverage of the next World Cup and continue to lead our live coverage of the FA Cup. After 25 seasons Gary is stepping down from MOTD. We want to thank him for everything he has done for the show, which continues to attract millions of viewers each week. He'll be hugely missed on the show but we're so happy he is staying with the BBC to present live football."

To which Lineker added: "I'm delighted to continue my long association with BBC Sport and would like to thank all those who made this happen." It was claimed on Tuesday night that the BBC boss was keen on the idea of Chapman and presenter Kelly Somers sharing hosting duties once Lineker has called his final show in May - however, it's been said that Chapman refused the idea.

A source told The Sun: "As soon as Gary's deal was done, Alex made it clear he wanted Mark and Kelly to replace him. It would effectively be a job share and they would rotate hosting duties between them. Mark has made it clear within the team at MOTD that this isn't something he would want to do. He doesn't want a job share, he wants Gary's role as his own, which is understandable. It's a headache for the BBC because they thought they'd found an easy solution. It's back to the drawing board and negotiations are ongoing."

Who should replace Gary Lineker as Match of the Day host? Share your thoughts in the comments below.