Mark Chapman has told BBC viewers to expect “nothing different” from Match of the Day next season after Gary Lineker’s departure.
Chapman, Gabby Logan and Kelly Cates will rotate anchor duties in Lineker’s place but those expecting major changes will be “disappointed”, he says.
His confirmation that the programme will be doing the “same thing” comes after BBC director of sport Alex Kay-Jelski informed staff of plans at Gary Neville’s Hotel Football near Old Trafford.
It had emerged a fortnight ago how key figures at the meeting were told Match of the Day will not show less football. That came as some surprise after BBC chairperson Samir Shah told The Sunday Times the show “should not be built around highlights. It should be built around analysis and examination of the match to give viewers a deeper insight”.
However, Chapman, speaking after being pipped by Cates to presenter of the year at the SJA British Sports Journalism Awards, has now categorically ruled out big changes.
“Well, nothing different,” he said during an interview at the award ceremony. “I know people keep saying, ‘oh, this will change, or that will change’. I genuinely don’t think anything will change. It will still be showing all the highlights and having a little bit of a chat. So, if you’re wanting a lot of change I suppose you’re going to be a bit disappointed by it. I think we still do the same thing, and talk about football, and have a laugh and that’ll be that.
A period of significant upheaval at BBC Sport is nevertheless under way. Corporation staff were informed two weeks ago that an overhaul will include offering most staff voluntary redundancy and scrapping 27 jobs.
In addition, Football Focus will be ordered to deliver punchier interviews and debate to arrest a long-standing slump in ratings, although they have seen a small upturn recently.
BBC News programme Sportsday is also facing the axe, along with a number of presenting roles, and the frequency of sports bulletins on the channel will also be reduced.
