Six sacked Soccer Saturday pundits and what really happened

Daily Record

02-05-2025

Soccer Saturday was once the must-watch show for football fans but has undergone a number of changes in recent years that has seen the likes of Charlie Nicholas axed at Sky Sports
Soccer Saturday was once a staple in the weekend itinerary of many football fans before significant alterations were made to its panel of pundits.
The Sky Sports show was the source of countless memorable moments during its heyday. The quartet of Phil Thompson, Matt Le Tissier, Scottish legend Charlie Nicholas and Paul Merson offered a unique blend of insightful analysis, humour and the occasional on-air blunder.
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With the legendary Jeff Stelling at the helm, Soccer Saturday stood head and shoulders above other sports programmes, thanks to the unique rapport amongst its pundits and the sometimes frenzied interruptions from reporters with goal updates from matches around the UK.
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However, the show's current incarnation is a far cry from what it was a decade ago, following several reshuffles by Sky Sports, which included the dismissal of long-standing pundits. So why did Sky decide to part ways with many of its beloved pundits?
Phil Thompson, Charlie Nicholas and Matt Le Tissier
Thompson was the first among the Soccer Saturday stalwarts to be informed of his departure in August 2020, closely followed by Celtic icon Nicholas and Le Tissier.
Sky's head of football arranged a meeting with the Liverpool legend, where he broke the news to Thompson that the broadcaster was charting a new course. A gutted Thompson told Daily Mail: "It became a way of life, so taking that away... I miss it. We were a band of brothers."
Nicholas and Le Tissier were also dropped while Merson was retained. In a statement regarding their decision, Sky explained: "We are changing some parts of our football coverage Matt, Charlie and Phil have done a great job for us over the years, and they will leave us with our sincere thanks and very best wishes."
Thompson, the oldest of the trio, felt that his co-stars had more to give, remarking: "It was three parts of a midfield. The others could have continued."
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Sky took this action during the pandemic, which may have been influenced by economic considerations and a response to calls for increased diversity on the channel. Le Tissier found the experience particularly tough due to his relatively younger age, Stelling once observed.
Meanwhile, BBC and ITV pundit Wright addressed the backlash on social media, insisting: "Matt Le Tissier, Charlie Nicholas, Phil Thompson, they've had an unbelievable run, it's been a great show. This happens to everyone in the industry. This is Sky's decision to evolve the show."
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Tony Cottee
Tony Cottee, the former West Ham, Everton and Leicester star, remained on Soccer Saturday for a year longer than the aforementioned colleagues before leaving as Sky looked to fresh-up up its on-screen roster of talent.
Reflecting on his departure on the Under the Cosh podcast, Cottee said: "I had 20 great years there and I look back and I don't like the way it ended. It was their choice more than my choice. I wanted to carry on being part of the show, obviously Soccer Saturday.
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"But I also look back and think I had 20 wonderful years. Some of the characters - Jeff Stelling's an amazing presenter. Then you think of the Kammy's (Chris Kamara) and the McInally's (Alan McInally), and then the lads who were on the panel. Merse, Le Tiss, Charlie, Thommo. Just wonderful characters."
Rodney Marsh
Rodney Marsh, another familiar face from Soccer Saturday's early days, was known for his forthright punditry. The Manchester City legend entertained audiences with his blunt analysis, once shaving his head after incorrectly predicting Bradford City's fate in a relegation battle.
However, Marsh's tenure on the show came to an abrupt end following an inappropriate joke about the tragic Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004. Despite issuing an apology, he was let go.
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Marsh went on to appear on reality TV shows such as 'I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here' in 2007 and has since been seen on various other programmes. Now aged 80, he continues to share his football insights on Sirius XM.
Bianca Westwood
Bianca Westwood became another high-profile reporter to part ways with Sky Sports in August 2023. After 22 years of service and making a name for herself as a fan favourite, she was let go by the broadcaster.
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The reshuffle saw other well-known reporters, including Dickie Davis, Guy Havord, Greg Whelan, Lynsey Hooper, and Jaydee Dyer, leave their roles, believed to be driven by budgetary constraints.
Now fulfilling a similar role at talkSPORT, Westwood shared an emotional post on Instagram regarding her departure: "A bit like when I did my first match report, I didn't want to make a fuss but I've had SO many messages and questions about where I'll be today I thought I might as well let you know.
"I haven't quite made enough money to retire unfortunately, but I am retiring from Sky Sports and Soccer Saturday. It's been a phenomenal 22 and a half years and I've been a small part of building the channel into the giant of broadcasting it is today. What a ride!"