New contender emerges to replace Gary Lineker as Match of the Day host

Mark Chapman has emerged as the top contender to take over from Gary Lineker as the host of the BBC's Match of the Day.

The 50-year-old, currently presents Match of the Day 2 on Sunday evening and also fronts the BBC’s sports coverage on Radio Five Live.

Chapman has now been handed the main presenting role for the BBC’s Champions League highlights show, which begins next week.

For the first time ever, the BBC will show match highlights from Europe’s elite club competition after agreeing a three-year deal with UEFA worth around £20 million.

According to The Times, Chapman’s role now puts him as the leading contender to replace Lineker as Match of the Day’s host.

The report claims that the BBC is still deciding on a successor for Lineker, whose £1.35 million-a-year contract expires at the end of the season.

Jermaine Jenas had been one of the favourites to be the next Match of the Day host before he was sacked by the BBC last month for sending unsolicited texts to two female staff members.

The former Tottenham, Newcastle United and England midfielder, who is a father-of-four, has said he felt ‘ashamed’ of his actions and that he was ‘deeply sorry’ for what happened in the lead-up to his sacking.

Jenas said after confessing to the allegations: ‘I feel ashamed. I feel I’ve let everybody down, friends, family, colleagues.

‘The handling of the situation wasn’t great. It was quick, and hell.

‘I don’t think there was a game plan for when they were going to announce they’d fired me.

‘I think different departments were being told different things. I think it’s shocking.’

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