Sky Sports news presenter Rob Wotton has tearful farewell on final show
Wotton, the popular host of the 'The Football Show' spent more than 25 years working for the channel.
Sky Sports News presenter Rob Wotton delivered an emotional goodbye to viewers as he confirmed his departure from the broadcaster. Wotton, the popular host of the 'The Football Show' spent more than 25 years working for the channel.
But bosses at Sky decided to pull the plug on the popular show where pundits Stephen Warnock and Sue Smith joined Wotton to discuss results, controversies and stand-out performances from the weekends' action. It also featured former ex Premier League ref Dermot Gallagher who provided an insight during 'Ref Watch'.
As the Mirror reports, a decision had been made to scrap the show completely, with Wotton announcing his own exit. Wotton joined Sky in 1998 and helped present coverage across all sports.
The Football Show became his prime role, while he also regularly presented on Sky Sports News. His final show came on Monday and he delivered a tearful farewell to viewers.
"It's been an absolute pleasure. I came here in my 20s and I thought I was only coming for a couple of weeks," he said. "And look, they haven't been able to get rid of me. I keep turning up, maybe one day they'll pay me!"
Warnock and Smith paid their own tributes to him, while staff and friends gathered at the back of the set to give Wotton a standing ovation. Wotton is the latest departure in a string of exits from Sky.
Jeff Stelling, Jimmy Bullard and John Fendley have all exited, along with several high-profile reporters such as Geoff Shreeves. The Football Show follows Soccer AM in being given the axe by Sky chiefs.
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!
If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
But workers are thought to be 'bewildered' by the latest item to fall victim, with Sky Sports currently undergoing a 'restructure' that is seeing seven reporters and presenters leave.
Insiders told The Mail that 'the changes are aimed at making them more agile and able to concentrate on breaking news stories across platforms". Gallagher's Ref Watch will remain in a new format elsewhere.
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was known to be a big fan of The Football Show. The German especially enjoyed coverage from ex-official Gallagher in his analysis of refereeing incidents.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rhyl Journal
2 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Jack Grealish needs regular football for World Cup consideration
The 29-year-old has found minutes hard to come by at the Etihad Stadium this season and been overlooked for both squads since the German coach took charge. Tuchel said he loved Grealish's personality, courage and quality after leaving him out in March due to a lack of game-time, with the attacking midfielder making just six City appearances since then. City manager Pep Guardiola is reportedly set to leave the former Aston Villa player out of his Club World Cup squad and a summer exit appears on the cards. England boss Tuchel said: 'My thoughts are still the same. I love Jack for his personality and of course his talent. 'He is a very unique player who can handle big pressure on the field. He is never shy of pressure. It's the opposite. 'He grows in big matches but he's a player who needs minutes and minutes and minutes and simply does not get them for a very long time. That's basically everything. Nothing has changed. 'I have maybe the same information as you that City are thinking of not taking him to the Club World Cup, so he needs to make himself available by playing. I think it's one of his key strengths. 'To go every three days and get better and better with every minute that he has in his legs – that's what is missing, nothing else. 'I have spoken to him after the first international camp and very shortly after the FA Cup final but not since then.' Friday focus ☑️Matchday 🔜 — England (@England) June 6, 2025 There are no City players in England's squad for June's double-header, but nine of the group are heading to the Club World Cup. Tuchel said he was not overthinking that aspect and, just like he did at the squad announcement, stressed that international matters took precedence. Asked if clubs had requested players did not feature in both Saturday's qualifier against Andorra and the Senegal friendly on Tuesday, he said: 'No one has asked me that question. 'I said also many times, I was like 15 years I think in club football, I think I have never asked an international coach what to do and how to use the players. "It was a good opportunity to change the environment." Thomas Tuchel talks on this week's warm weather training camp in Spain ☀️ — England (@England) June 6, 2025 'We have very limited time for ourselves. We have our very own interest also to see a lot of the players that are in camp and maybe even all of the players that are in camp, so we have an own interest to mix the teams. 'But no coach has called me and there was no request from the FA that a club called. 'We know the clubs have a lot of matches and the players go after to the Club World Cup. 'But it can also happen that some players start twice for us, but like I said, we also have an interest to see a lot of players in these two matches, so I think we will not in the end upset anyone.' Another player heading to the Club World Cup is Liam Delap, who is going there with new club Chelsea rather than leading the line for England Under-21s at the Euros. 'It would have been nice for him and for the FA for him to play a big tournament, but that's nowadays football,' said Tuchel, who may not risk Bukayo Saka against Andorra as he recovers from a knock. 'There are some rules and its club first. It would have been nice to do the 21s and would have been nice to see him lead the under-21s as the main striker.'
Leader Live
2 hours ago
- Leader Live
Jack Grealish needs regular football for World Cup consideration
The 29-year-old has found minutes hard to come by at the Etihad Stadium this season and been overlooked for both squads since the German coach took charge. Tuchel said he loved Grealish's personality, courage and quality after leaving him out in March due to a lack of game-time, with the attacking midfielder making just six City appearances since then. City manager Pep Guardiola is reportedly set to leave the former Aston Villa player out of his Club World Cup squad and a summer exit appears on the cards. England boss Tuchel said: 'My thoughts are still the same. I love Jack for his personality and of course his talent. 'He is a very unique player who can handle big pressure on the field. He is never shy of pressure. It's the opposite. 'He grows in big matches but he's a player who needs minutes and minutes and minutes and simply does not get them for a very long time. That's basically everything. Nothing has changed. 'I have maybe the same information as you that City are thinking of not taking him to the Club World Cup, so he needs to make himself available by playing. I think it's one of his key strengths. 'To go every three days and get better and better with every minute that he has in his legs – that's what is missing, nothing else. 'I have spoken to him after the first international camp and very shortly after the FA Cup final but not since then.' Friday focus ☑️Matchday 🔜 — England (@England) June 6, 2025 There are no City players in England's squad for June's double-header, but nine of the group are heading to the Club World Cup. Tuchel said he was not overthinking that aspect and, just like he did at the squad announcement, stressed that international matters took precedence. Asked if clubs had requested players did not feature in both Saturday's qualifier against Andorra and the Senegal friendly on Tuesday, he said: 'No one has asked me that question. 'I said also many times, I was like 15 years I think in club football, I think I have never asked an international coach what to do and how to use the players. "It was a good opportunity to change the environment." Thomas Tuchel talks on this week's warm weather training camp in Spain ☀️ — England (@England) June 6, 2025 'We have very limited time for ourselves. We have our very own interest also to see a lot of the players that are in camp and maybe even all of the players that are in camp, so we have an own interest to mix the teams. 'But no coach has called me and there was no request from the FA that a club called. 'We know the clubs have a lot of matches and the players go after to the Club World Cup. 'But it can also happen that some players start twice for us, but like I said, we also have an interest to see a lot of players in these two matches, so I think we will not in the end upset anyone.' Another player heading to the Club World Cup is Liam Delap, who is going there with new club Chelsea rather than leading the line for England Under-21s at the Euros. 'It would have been nice for him and for the FA for him to play a big tournament, but that's nowadays football,' said Tuchel, who may not risk Bukayo Saka against Andorra as he recovers from a knock. 'There are some rules and its club first. It would have been nice to do the 21s and would have been nice to see him lead the under-21s as the main striker.'
North Wales Chronicle
2 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Jack Grealish needs regular football for World Cup consideration
The 29-year-old has found minutes hard to come by at the Etihad Stadium this season and been overlooked for both squads since the German coach took charge. Tuchel said he loved Grealish's personality, courage and quality after leaving him out in March due to a lack of game-time, with the attacking midfielder making just six City appearances since then. City manager Pep Guardiola is reportedly set to leave the former Aston Villa player out of his Club World Cup squad and a summer exit appears on the cards. England boss Tuchel said: 'My thoughts are still the same. I love Jack for his personality and of course his talent. 'He is a very unique player who can handle big pressure on the field. He is never shy of pressure. It's the opposite. 'He grows in big matches but he's a player who needs minutes and minutes and minutes and simply does not get them for a very long time. That's basically everything. Nothing has changed. 'I have maybe the same information as you that City are thinking of not taking him to the Club World Cup, so he needs to make himself available by playing. I think it's one of his key strengths. 'To go every three days and get better and better with every minute that he has in his legs – that's what is missing, nothing else. 'I have spoken to him after the first international camp and very shortly after the FA Cup final but not since then.' Friday focus ☑️Matchday 🔜 — England (@England) June 6, 2025 There are no City players in England's squad for June's double-header, but nine of the group are heading to the Club World Cup. Tuchel said he was not overthinking that aspect and, just like he did at the squad announcement, stressed that international matters took precedence. Asked if clubs had requested players did not feature in both Saturday's qualifier against Andorra and the Senegal friendly on Tuesday, he said: 'No one has asked me that question. 'I said also many times, I was like 15 years I think in club football, I think I have never asked an international coach what to do and how to use the players. "It was a good opportunity to change the environment." Thomas Tuchel talks on this week's warm weather training camp in Spain ☀️ — England (@England) June 6, 2025 'We have very limited time for ourselves. We have our very own interest also to see a lot of the players that are in camp and maybe even all of the players that are in camp, so we have an own interest to mix the teams. 'But no coach has called me and there was no request from the FA that a club called. 'We know the clubs have a lot of matches and the players go after to the Club World Cup. 'But it can also happen that some players start twice for us, but like I said, we also have an interest to see a lot of players in these two matches, so I think we will not in the end upset anyone.' Another player heading to the Club World Cup is Liam Delap, who is going there with new club Chelsea rather than leading the line for England Under-21s at the Euros. 'It would have been nice for him and for the FA for him to play a big tournament, but that's nowadays football,' said Tuchel, who may not risk Bukayo Saka against Andorra as he recovers from a knock. 'There are some rules and its club first. It would have been nice to do the 21s and would have been nice to see him lead the under-21s as the main striker.'
