Sky Sports are reportedly set to unveil Simon Thomas because the substitute for Jeff Stelling on Soccer Saturday. The former Blue Peter presenter has huge sneakers to fill, with Stelling waving goodbye to loyal viewers on the finish of final season following a 25-year stretch on the channel's flagship soccer outcomes present.

Thomas, 50, already has expertise presenting Sky Sports' Premier League protection, and he has constructed a profitable freelance profession over the previous few years. His appointment is anticipated to go down effectively with viewers and colleagues.

According to The Daily Mail, Thomas has landed the function regardless of stiff comeptition from fellow Sky Sports presenters Caroline Barker and Jules Warren, and he will likely be formally unveiled as Stelling's substitute subsequent week.

Thomas spent six years on Blue Peter earlier in his profession, and his first Soccer Saturday present is about to air on 5 August, coinciding with the beginning of the EFL season.

Norwich-born Thomas quickly stepped again from the business six years in the past following the tragic dying of his spouse, who handed away solely three days after being identified with acute myeloid leukemia.

Sky Sports has been the topic of a significant reshuffle in current months, with Stelling heading for the exit door alongside long-serving commentator Martin Tyler, touchline reporter Geoff Shreeves and pundit Graeme Souness.

Stelling was a massively common determine over 1 / 4 of a century presenting Soccer Saturday, the place he gained a fame for over-the-top celebrations of Hartlepool United targets and a heartwarming friendship with Chris Kamara.

As a part of an emotional last monologue, the 68-year-old instructed viewers: "Elton John rang me this week. Someone requested me the opposite day if I've ever been starstruck, and yeah... I used to be starstruck when Elton John rang me at residence to say 'thanks very a lot for all you've got performed'.

"He stated to me: 'Every week I watch the present and each week you inform me Watford are dropping, and each week you inform me Hartlepool are dropping - so I really feel like we're kindred spirits'."