Why have Shreeves, Tyler and Stelling left Sky Sports?
Geoff Shreeves, Martin Tyler and Jeff Stelling have all left Sky Sports ahead of the new Premier League season… but why will they not be a part of the channel’s coverage?
- The 2023-24 Premier League season is set to officially get underway next month
- While fans will be excited, many big names won’t be appearing on our screens
- EXCLUSIVE: Geoff Shreeves quits Sky Sports, joining Martin Tyler, Jeff Stelling
The new Premier League season is set to get underway next month, but several big names are set to be absent from the official Sky Sports coverage.
Geoff Shreeves has become the latest big name to leave Sky Sports following the departures of the iconic television commentator Martin Tyler and Jeff Stelling.
Tyler began at Sky Sports 33 years ago and became one of the most recognisable voices in the history of the Premier League.
Shreeves joined Sky in 1991 and started off as a floor manager before working his way up to becoming one of their biggest reporters.
Mail Sport breaks down why Geoff Shreeves, Martin Tyler and Jeff Stelling have all left ahead of the new season.
Geoff Shreeves has revealed to Mail Sport that he will not be a part of the Sky Sports team ahead of the new season
Following Shreeves’ announcement, he is set to follow Jeff Stelling and Martin Tyler in leaving Sky Sports
Why have they all left?
Mail Sport revealed in June that Sky Sports will axe half of their football reporting team in a brutal cost-cutting move.
The decision was made after a consultation over redundancies in April, with six of their 13-strong team of football reporters being cut, although some chose to go voluntarily.
The likes of Guy Havord, Dickie Davis, Bianca Westwood, Greg Whelan, Lynsey Hooper and Jaydee Dyer will not be continuing in their current roles.
Following the news, Tyler confirmed that he will be stepping down from his role ahead of the 2023-24 season.
Mail Sport learned that Shreeves was asked to take a significant pay-cut if he wants to extend his stay at the broadcaster.
However, Shreeves opted against the pay-cut and has now decided to walk away. It has been revealed that he is expected to be back on TV soon.
Tyler began at Sky Sports 33 years ago and became one of the most recognisable voices in the history of the Premier League
As for Stelling, he announced in April that he will be leaving Sky Sports at the end of the season. The 68-year-old decided to call it time on his career after more than 25 years presenting Soccer Saturday.
‘I’ve been at Sky for more than 30 years and loved every moment of my time as part of the Soccer Saturday team,’ Stelling told Sky Sports.
‘It is now the right time to move on and give Sky Sports viewers a break from my relentless rants, bad gags and over the top celebrations of Hartlepool United goals. It’s been a lot of fun – for me at least!’
Graeme Souness is another big name who will not be a part of the Sky Sports team next season.
The former Scotland international, who has served as a pundit on the network for well over a decade, announced in April that he will be stepping down from his role.
Mail Sport revealed in June that Sky Sports will axe half of their football reporting team in a brutal cost-cutting move
Who will replace them?
Back in June, Mail Sport revealed that Peter Drury has agreed to replace Tyler for the new Premier League season.
The 55-year-old has been the lead commentator for NBC in the United States but is now set to be the voice of Sky Sports for the new Premier League campaign.
It is expected that Drury will focus on one game a week for the broadcaster, which would be on Sunday, Monday or midweek.
As of right now Sky Sports have not revealed the replacement for Jeff Stelling.
Simon Thomas is among the names being considered as a successor for Stelling.
Sky are yet to announce a replacement for Shreeves, but Patrick Davison is in contention to make the step up.
Peter Drury, right, has agreed to become Sky Sports lead commentator ahead of the new Premier League season
When does the season start?
Manchester City will begin their title defence with a trip to Premier League new boys Burnley.
The fixture is the curtain-raiser to the season on Friday, August 11 and is set to kick off ay 8pm. The storylines will be aplenty as Burnley boss and City legend Vincent Kompany welcomes the Treble-winners up as his first-ever game in the top flight.
Arsenal will begin the new season at home to Nottingham Forest, while Manchester United host Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The standout fixture of the opening weekend is a blockbuster clash between Chelsea and Liverpool, which is scheduled to take place on Sunday, August 13 (4.30pm KO) – in what will be Mauricio Pochettino’s first competitive game at the helm of the Blues.
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