Mark Chapman, the BBC presenter, has ruled himself out of the running to become the next host of Match of the Day after Alex Scott said she would not be taking over from Gary Lineker.
Chapman, who has been a regular presenter on the show since 2017, had been tipped as a potential successor to Lineker, who announced last month that he would be stepping down from the role after more than a decade.
However, Chapman has now said that he will not be putting himself forward for the job, citing his commitments to other BBC programmes as the reason for his decision.
In a statement, Chapman said: “I’m flattered to be linked with the role of Match of the Day host, but I’m not in the running. I’m already committed to a number of other BBC programmes and I’m looking forward to continuing to work on them.”
Chapman’s decision comes after former England and Arsenal defender Alex Scott said she would not be taking over from Lineker. Scott, who has been a regular pundit on the show since 2016, said she was “not ready” for the role and wanted to focus on her other commitments.
The BBC is now on the hunt for a new host for Match of the Day, with a number of names being linked with the role. These include former England striker Alan Shearer, ex-Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher and former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes.
The BBC has said it is looking for a “diverse range of candidates” for the role, and has not ruled out the possibility of a female presenter taking over from Lineker.
Whoever takes over from Lineker will have big shoes to fill. The former England striker has been the face of Match of the Day since 1999, and has become one of the most recognisable faces in British football.
Lineker has said he will continue to work with the BBC in other roles, and will remain a regular presenter on the show until a new host is appointed.
The BBC is expected to make an announcement on the new Match of the Day host in the coming weeks.
