Match Of The Day is rocked by Jermaine Jenas' sacking - star was clear favourite to replace Gary Lineker whose contract runs out next year and now Mark Chapman and Gaby Logan are among the front-runners
Jermaine Jenas was the clear favourite to replace Gary Lineker as host of Match of the Day before he was fired by the BBC yesterday.
The ex-Premier League star's shock sacking over allegations of 'inappropriate behaviour' means any plans bosses may have had to move him into the hot seat of the broadcaster's flagship football show have been ripped apart.
The former England international, 41, had long been touted as Lineker's replacement, whose £1.35m-a-year deal runs out next year, and was the bookies' favourite at odds of 3/1 until his axing.
But he was noticeably absent from the first MOTD of the new season last Saturday with Joe Hart making a debut appearance as pundit alongside Alan Shearer.
It is not known if Jenas was scheduled to appear on the show with his last appearance on the panel coming on May 4.
Now the likes of Gaby Logan and Mark Chapman are among the front-runners to replace Lineker if he were to depart.
Jermaine Jenas was the clear favourite to replace Gary Lineker as host of Match of the Day before he was fired by the BBC yesterday
Questions have been raised about Lineker's future presenting the broadcaster's flagship football shop with just a year remaining on his £1.35m deal
Jermaine Jenas on the phone as he leaves Talksport on Thursday evening after being sacked
Lineker, 63, who has previously labelled Jenas as his 'natural successor', and Shearer were reportedly unaware of the BBC's recent probe into the star with a source telling The Sun: 'It was shrouded in secrecy. It has shocked, and rocked, everyone.'
Jenas admitted as recently as last April he would jump at the chance of taking up the reins telling MailOnline he would 'obviously be up for it'.
'It's Match of the Day and it would be a great opportunity,' he said.
'I haven't thought that far ahead but I hosted Match of the Day 2, which was the first one I've ever done. I loved it, it felt comfortable to me, it felt normal, and I love doing The One Show as well.
'I feel quite blessed that I'm even in people's minds that it's something I could take on given how big the show actually is.' he added.
Lineker raised further questions about his future saying 'we'll have to wait and see what happens' when asked in an interview with the BBC how much longer he would remain in the job.
Jenas previously hosted spin-off show MOTDx for four years before it was axed in October 2023 when the broadcaster decided to focus on producing more digital content as part of 'some changes to our football output'.
He has previously had stints hosting Match of the Day 2, FA Cup highlights and the World Cup 2022 draw.
Jenas is pictured on his last episode of the One Show in July 22 of this year alongside Alex Jones
Jenas has not been shy in throwing his ring into the hat for the coveted role previously saying he would 'obviously be up for it'
Jenas said he 'loved it, it felt comfortable to me, it felt normal' when he presented Match of the Day 2 'and I love doing The One Show as well'
The BBC's fallen poster boy appeared to have been honing his skills for one day becoming MOTD host with regular appearances fronting The One Show.
And he revealed on That Peter Crouch Podcast in March that he had been 'practising' for the role.
He said: 'When I do Match of the Day, there used to be a woman called Michelle who used to do Gary's autocue. So when Gary was in makeup I used to go run and jump in the seat and be like 'look Michelle let's do the autocue'.
'She was like 'go on quick do it' and we'd just run through the whole show. I was just practising and that wasn't me going 'oh I want to do Gary's job'.
'It was me just thinking 'right, what's it like in this seat, for him, to present', because I wanted to know what it felt like. She'd kind of go 'ah yeah you've messed up there', we'd have a laugh with it. Then he'd come and go 'get out the seat'.
The married father of four last presented The One Show alongside Welsh co-host Alex Jones on July 22, interviewing popstar Will Young, and appeared on the Match of The Day panel on May 4.
Chapman, who was the second favourite at 4/1, is now seemingly the favourite to step in should Lineker depart.
Chapman became the main presenter of Match of the Day 2 in 2013.
Gabby Logan, who has often stood in for Lineker on Match of the Day, is also amongst the contenders to replace Lineker at 7/1, with Micah Richards available at the same price.
Mark Chapman, who hosts Match of the Day 2, is now the favourite to replace Lineker
Gabby Logan has often stood in for Lineker to host Match of the Day and is another candidate
Micah Richards, who has proven hugely popular as a pundit, has also been linked with the job
Kelly Somers and Alex Scott are both at odds of 8/1 to replace Lineker, who has yet to confirm whether he will remain as Match of the Day host beyond next year.
Jenas is said to be 'deeply unhappy' about the allegations and said 'there is two sides to every story.
He was fired this week after 'rumours' spread among colleagues about the inappropriate messages.
A female member of staff of The One Show claimed she received unsolicited communications via text from Jenas, reports claimed.
Others are now said to have come forward amid the probe into messages allegedly sent by the married ex-footballer, according to The Sun. However, the source added there is 'no suggestion of illegality' on the ex-footballer's part.
The news of Jenas' sacking came moments before he went live on air on talkSport radio yesterday afternoon, who have now said he will no longer appear on the show in the 'immediate future'.
