Simon Thomas in race to replace Jeff Stelling as Sky Sports Soccer Saturday host

Jeff Stelling's Soccer Saturday replacement may have Sky Sports experience amid reports Simon Thomas is being considered for the role.

Sky are yet to make a decision over who will take over from Stelling in the Soccer Saturday hot seat after the television favourite retired from the role this year. Stelling, 68, fronted Soccer Saturday for just short of 30 years, making this summer's succession a decision of huge significance.

The Daily Mail reported former Blue Peter host Thomas is in contention for the gig as he 'hopes to return to a full-time role' in the near future. The Norwich native has been freelancing for various outlets in recent years and was part of Amazon Prime's Premier League coverage this past season.

Thomas, 50, has previously worked for Sky Sports and appeared on the broadcaster's Premier League, cricket and golf content between 2005 and 2018.

READ MORE: Jeff Stelling set for prolonged TV absence after leaving Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday

However, he stepped back from presenting duties in 2017 following the tragic death of his first wife, Gemma. His late spouse was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia and died just three days later, leading Thomas to become an ambassador for blood cancer awareness and mental health causes.

The Reading resident has since remarried to current spouse Derrina Jebb, with whom he had a daughter in October 2022.

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And after a period away from Sky Sports, Thomas could be poised for a proud return to their ranks to fill the considerable hole left by Stelling's departure. Soccer Saturday has undergone a major shake-up ahead of the new season, and Stelling led a parade of significant departures at Sky Sports of late.

Chris Kamara will no longer be part of the Soccer Saturday team, while Graeme Souness also announced he was stepping down from Sky duties. 'The Voice' Martin Tyler is also moving on from commentating, while touchline reporter Geoff Shreeves has reportedly been told to take a big pay cut to keep his job.

"I've quickly learnt that being freelance in broadcast is not for the faint hearted," Thomas wrote in a LinkedIn update earlier this year. "One minute you can feel on top of the world wondering how you're going to fit everything in; next you're feeling that uncomfortable anxiety pondering where the next gig is going to come from. Is the rainy day fund going to run dry?

"Part of me loves the excitement of the unknown; the not knowing what might come next; but perhaps a bigger part of me craves a return to the days of a decent degree of certainty."

Broadcasting veteran Stelling is expected to remain off televisions in the coming campaign but has been linked with roles at Amazon and the BBC.

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