Mark Chapman addresses speculation about potentially replacing Gary Lineker on Match of the Day

Mark Chapman has playfully mentioned that he's in need of a personal assistant as rumors continue to swirl about him potentially replacing Gary Lineker as the host of Match of the Day.

After 25 years at the helm, the BBC have confirmed that this will be Lineker’s last season as the flagship football programme’s lead presenter.

Lineker, 63, will, though, host the 2025/26 season of the FA Cup and the BBC’s coverage of next year’s World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

The former England, Tottenham and Barcelona striker will also continue with the MOTD Top Ten podcast alongside Alan Shearer and Micah Richards.

A host of high-profile names from the world of sports presenting have been linked with the job since the shock announcement, with the likes of Alex Scott, Kelly Cates, Dion Dublin and David Jones among those tipped as possible replacements.

Chapman, who currently hosts Match of the Day 2, finds himself as the bookmakers’ favourite to succeed Lineker, though the 51-year-old is reportedly against the idea of sharing the role alongside Kelly Somers.

With Chapman’s name consistently mentioned in recent days, Gabby Logan – another presenter heavily linked – took the opportunity to poke fun at her co-host on the latest episode of pair’s podcast The Sports Agents.

Early on in the show, Chapman’s phone could be heard ringing in the background, to which Logan quipped: ‘I know, yeah. That’s the BBC, Match Of The Day,’ much to her colleague’s amusement.

Chapman, nicknamed Chappers, replied: ‘Haha! I tell you what, honestly, I don’t know what it’s like for you at the moment, but bloody hell, I could do with a PA at the moment!’

The duo quickly moved on from the topic before landing themselves in any trouble but the gossip and rumour is likely to rumble on until the BBC do finally announce Lineker’s successor – whenever that may be.

Lineker’s long-time Match of the Day colleague, Mark Lawrenson, speaking exclusively to Metro.co.uk, named Chapman as a ‘ready-made replacement’ for Lineker.

‘I still tune in regularly. It is still a very good programme, full stop,’ the ex-Liverpool and Republic of Ireland defender said before the BBC’s confirmed Lineker’s impending departure.

‘I know there is a lot of speculation over Gary at the moment. Would it surprise me if he left at the end of the season? Possibly no.

‘But he has earned the right to make his own decision, there is no doubt there whatever. And in Chappers, there is a ready-made replacement if it goes that way. It will be up to Gary.’

Lawrenson added: ‘‘Replacing Gary, it’s a big role for whoever takes it.

‘Before him, Des [Lynam] and Jimmy Hill did it for years and were wonderful but at the end of it all, your time comes.

‘But the good thing for Gary is, I think he will decide. I don’t think the BBC will decide. He will decide if he wants to go. He has earned the right to do so. He’s earned the right to leave.

‘He’s in his 60s now, I’m not sure what else he has going on that could possibly be a substitute for Match of the Day because when you first leave it feels like someone has chopped your arm off. But he can do whatever he wants.’

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