Sky Sports block BBC plan to replace Gary Lineker on Match of the Day

Sky Sports is ready to put up a fight to keep presenter Kelly Cates amid rumours of BBC's interest in her for the Match of the Day hosting role. Cates, one of the frontrunners to step into Gary Lineker's shoes after he steps down post-2024/25 season, has had an illustrious career spanning Sky, BBC, ITV and Channel 4, where she's famously known for anchoring Premier League coverage like Friday Night Football.

Cates, also the daughter of football icon Kenny Dalglish, finds herself content with her diverse range of projects but may find the lure of one of TV's most prestigious roles hard to resist. .

Discussing her current work-life balance with The Independent, Cates said: "Do you know, and you never want to say this, but at the moment I've got a really lovely mix of everything. I've got TV, live matches, radio, and when it gets towards the end of the season I do live Champions League games too."

"I could be at an Olympics or a World Cup during the summer so the balance of everything feels really nice. But I'm not tempting fate."

Gary Lineker, who has been Match of the Day's go-to presenter for over 25 years, has chosen now as the right moment to bow out with new broadcasting deals and fresh visions for the flagship show on the horizon.

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Speaking on the Rest is Football podcast, he said: "It has been an absolute joy and privilege to present such an iconic show for the BBC, but all things have to come to an end. It came at a point where really the BBC and Match Of The Day, they've got the rights for another three years, the cycle starts from next season so it felt like if I just do one more year it would be a bit weird."

He added: "I bowed out in my football career when I felt it was the right time. I feel this is now the right time. I think the next contract they're looking to do Match Of The Day slightly differently, so I think it makes sense for someone else to take the helm."

In addition to Cates, Mark Chapman has been heavily linked to the role, while Roman Kemp has been touted for a new position on the show. Lineker has refrained from making a recommendation.

"Obviously, I don't know who it'll be, and I would never tell publicly my preference," he said. "I don't think that'd be the right thing to do – but whoever it is, I would say be yourself."

He concluded: "I had to fill the ginormous shoes of certain Des Lynam. I would say just be yourself and enjoy it, it's a wonderful programme to be a part of. It was brilliant before I took over, and it will be brilliant after I leave."