ROMAN Kemp is being courted by the BBC’s Director of Sport for a new role on Match Of The Day.
The move comes after Gary Lineker stepped down from his role as the host of the flagship football show after 25 years at the helm.
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Insiders said BBC boss Alex Kay-Jelski wanted TV star Roman, 31, for a digital role as the show modernises in the years to come.
A source said: “Match Of The Day is moving with the times and next season there will be more of a focus on digital highlights.
“Alex has been speaking with Roman about possibly coming on board and how it could work.
“Roman has a massive following online and is hugely popular with a younger audience thanks to his years hosting the Breakfast Show on Capital FM.
“He is also a huge Arsenal fan and knows what he is talking about when it comes to football.
“It is very much in the early stages but Match Of The Day is coming into a new digital age and Alex would love to have Roman front and centre.”
The move comes after the BBC struck a new deal with the Premier League which means they will be able to share match highlights before Match Of The Day airs.
The agreement means that the BBC will be putting a renewed focus on their digital and social output.
Following Gary’s decision to step down this week, the BBC are now looking for a new host of the show.
The Sun revealed this week how MOTD2 host Mark Chapman was offered the role as a job share alongside rising star Kelly Somers – but turned it down.
We first revealed how Gary, 63, had agreed to step away from Match Of The Day on Tuesday.
He will host MOTD until the end of the season and anchor the FA Cup in 2025 and 2026, along with fronting the BBC’s coverage of the next World Cup.
Roman has a massive following online and is hugely popular with a younger audience thanks to his years hosting the Breakfast Show on Capital FM
BBC source
Gary will continue to host the MOTD Top Ten podcast and the BBC will also now host his popular The Rest is Football podcast on BBC Sounds.
The podcast – which also features Alan Shearer and Micah Richards – is part of Goalhanger productions, co-founded by Gary.
A spokesperson for the BBC added: “It would be an own goal to comment on every name put to us – but any new signings will be announced as soon as deals are done.”
Who could replace Gary Lineker as MOTD host?
GARY LINEKER dropped the shock news that he is QUITTING Match of the Day.
The popular presenter, 63, took over hosting duties on the flagship BBC programme from Des Lynam in 1999.
But after more than 25 years in the studio hotseat, he has called time on his MOTD gig.
But as part of a huge shake-up, the BBC is considering rotating the presenters on a weekly basis.
So with Lineker vacating the chair, new names will step into his giant boots. But who could they be?
MARK CHAPMAN
Chapman, 51, is the obvious early favourite to follow on from Lineker as MOTD presenter.
He already has the gig as MOTD2 host on a Sunday night plus landed the presenting job for the new BBC Champions League highlights show.
ALEX SCOTT
Scott gets the nod from the Beeb bosses when Lineker is away.
The former right-back, 40, is used to presenting the Saturday night show as well as live match coverage – plus ticks the box as a former England international.
GABBY LOGAN
Like Scott, Logan, 51, is one of the understudies to step in when Lineker is not available.
She has done most gigs since joining the BBC in 2007, including Olympics, Sports Personality of the Year and Final Score.
MICAH RICHARDS
Lineker’s top pick to replace him is exuberant former Man City defender Richards.
The departing host told his close pal, 36, on their Stick to Football podcast: “I’d love to see you take over Micah, I think you’d be brilliant in the chair.”
JASON MOHAMMAD
Mohammad could earn the “promotion” from Final Score to Match of the Day.
The 51-year-old Welshman – who took over from Logan in 2013 – is one of the BBC’s top earners already and is more senior than fellow Final Score and BBC Sport broadcaster Kelly Somers, who could in theory become the main live host for the afternoon slot.
JEFF STELLING
He couldn’t, could he? While Lineker has been the face of Saturday night TV for football fans for years, the face of the afternoons was Stelling in his role as Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday presenter.
He would bring plenty of on-screen charisma, wit and legendary TV expertise – but at nearly 70 and currently with talkSPORT, the Hartlepool fan would not be a cheap or long-term appointment.
