Alex Scott ‘ticks two boxes for the BBC’ as Gary Lineker prepares to leave Match of the Day
Alex Scott reportedly ticks two boxes for the BBC, with the 40-year-old among the candidates who could replace Gary Lineker.
Lineker will leave Match of the Day at the end of the campaign before leaving the Beeb for good in 2026.
The former England, Tottenham, Leicester and Barcelona star has been the host of MOTD ever since the departure of Des Lynham back in 1999.
He will leave big boots to fill, with Lineker establishing himself as one of the most-popular presenters in the business over the past 25 years.
According to The Sun, Scott is one of the candidates who could replace Lineker.
The 40-year-old is currently the host of Football Focus and has been working with the broadcaster ever since 2019.
It’s claimed that Scott ticks two boxes for the BBC, with the first being that she’s a former England international.
Scott made a staggering 140 appearances for her country over the years, having made her debut back in 2004.
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The former Lionesses star netted 12 goals during that time and was allotted 155 when the FA announced their legacy numbers scheme to honour the 50th anniversary of England’s inaugural international in June last year.
The second box Scott ticks is that she’s still got a long broadcasting career ahead of her.
However, reports did recently say that she’d been left ‘deeply hurt’ by her treatment at the BBC and was considering her own future.
In 2023, it emerged that Football Focus’ viewing figures were declining following the BBC’s decision to replace Dan Walker with Scott in 2021.
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But the former Arsenal and Birmingham star feels the corporation didn’t do enough to support her at a time when she came in for criticism.
A source told The Sun: “Alex has never been happier than she is right now, she’s just turned 40 and embracing a new chapter in her life, and the decision to part ways from Children In Need – an event she is hugely proud to have been a part of – was entirely mutual.
“She wants to concentrate on her ambassadorships with UNICEF and Refuge right now, and is also contemplating a move to America with her girlfriend, Jess [Glynne].
“There are no guarantees she will be with the BBC next summer – her contract is up for renewal and she is in talks for a raft of other exciting projects.
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“Football Focus turns 50 this year and Alex is now seriously contemplating moving on from the show.
“Last year she was hugely hurt by unfair criticism about falling viewing figures – and felt she was thrown under a bus.
“The viewing figures were not as reported and she feels no-one backed her up and issued the correct viewing figures.
“The viewing figures are actually super healthy, and Alex raised her concerns as she has been in this business long enough now to stand up for herself.”
Scott isn’t, however, the only name in the frame to replace Lineker.
Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan have emerged as possible candidates, while Dion Dublin has been linked as well.
