Jeff Stelling announces he will leave Sky Sports this season after U-turn

29 April 2023 , 14:07

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Soccer Saturday host Jeff Stelling is standing down at the end of May (Image: Sky Sports)

Sky Sports Soccer Saturday host Jeff Stelling has confirmed that he will be stepping down from his role at the end of the season.

Stelling has been at Sky for more than 30 years and fronted their popular results show for over 25 years. But after U-turning on a decision to retire last year, the presenter confirmed he will walk away at the end of May on Saturday afternoon.

“It is Groundhog Day, that time of the year when I announce that I am leaving Sky Sports and Gillette Soccer Saturday,” Stelling said.

“This time it is true. After 30 fantastic years on Sky, you lot out there have supported me, as have Sky, but it’s time to give you a break from all the VAR rants and bad gags and over the top celebrations when Hartlepool score a goal and give someone else the chance to do this fantastic job.

“So I’ll be leaving on May 28th, we’ve got a few programs between now and then, this is the last six hour Saturday Gillette Soccer Saturday… so we’d better get on with it!”

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The Sky Sports icon was treated to an impromptu round of applause from the studio guests covering the weekend's games, including show stalwart Paul Merson, after he made his announcement shortly after the 3pm fixtures had kicked off.

Stelling had announced back in October 2021 that he was planning to walk away at the end of the 2021/22 season. But he later revealed that the outpouring of support from people urging him to reconsider eventually led to him deciding to backtrack on his initial decision.

Join the debate! What is your favourite Jeff Stelling memory from his iconic Soccer Saturday stint? Let us know here.

Stelling has been with the broadcaster for over 30 years (Phil Shephard-Lewis/Popperfoto via Getty Images)

In his column for The Hartlepool Mail 12 months ago, Stelling wrote: “The truth is that I was never retiring so there was never going to be a Sinatra or Streisand or Scholes-esque comeback. I always intended to carry on working and had lots of offers. I had been mulling over which to accept for months. When I suggested that I could carry on for at least another year, they agreed pretty much on the spot.

“I know a year might not be enough by the way which is why I agreed AT LEAST another 12 months with Sky. Hopefully that will be time enough for me to be presenting when Pools win promotion back to League One!”

Stelling's departure date of May 28 means the seasoned broadcaster will remain at the helm until the end of the regulation season. It remains to be seen who will step into the role heading up Soccer Saturday, which Stelling has held since it was rebranded back in 1998.

Dan Marsh