Alan Shearer quits, first choice presenter rejects offer, Match of the Day nightmare scenario

Match of the Day has become an icon of British sports television - but it could be expecting some twists and turns following the departure of presenter Gary Lineker.

The BBC confirmed last week that ex-Tottenham forward Lineker would be stepping down from his role as presenter of the flagship football show. Often joined as analysts by the likes of Alan Shearer, Micah Richards and many more, the show is watched not only by millions of fans per episode, but also Premier League footballers.

Now with Lineker out of the equation next year, the question isn't just who will replace him, but it is also about who will go with him. With the future of the show in the BBC's hands, it could turn out to be a nightmare for the broadcasting behemoths.

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With this in mind, let's take a look some of the BBC's potentially horror situations.

Alan Shearer leaves

Breaking the bond of Shearer and Lineker is going to be a tough thing to do. The pair have endured years of each others terrible dad-jokes on screen. Their comfortability alongside each other is a testament to their long-standing friendship.

It has been almost a decade since the Beeb fired Jeremy Clarkson from Top Gear. His partners-in-crime Richard Hammond and James May left with him. After years of interchanging presenters, Top Gear won't return 'for the foreseeable future.' This is exactly the situation that the BBC will be wanting to avoid again with MOTD.

The time that Lineker was temporarily suspended due to comments he made on social media regarding the then ruling UK government, Shearer and ex-Arsenal striker Ian Wright stood with the 63-year-old, refusing to partake. This resulted in a bizarre 20-minute showing of MOTD.

If Shearer does leave, then the broadcasting giants would have to find replacements pretty quickly. No matter who they pick, it'll be hard to beat the partnership these two had.

Micah Richards moves

The trio that is Lineker, Shearer and Richards have become a staple of English football in recent years.

The former-defender has become, as Jamie Carragher put it, the Marmite of pundits. You either love him or you don't. However, it's hard to take away from the fact that his contagious laughter paired with defensive technical analysis adds a unique touch to the more experienced attacking duo he works alongside.

Richards is a busy man in football. Alongside frequent appearances on MOTD, he also appears on Sky Sports and has most recently found success on CBS working on the Champions League.

With all these projects going on, alongside the possibility of his BBC trio disbanding from TV, Richards may see his time better spent focusing on his two other ventures. Plus, he will still see the others on their podcast 'The Rest is Football'.

First choice rejection

Speculation for who will become the new host of the flagship football show has been at an all-time-high recently. Figures from within the BBC such as Mark Chapman and Alex Scott, and outside the BBC like Piers Morgan and TNT presenter Reshmin Chowdhury, are all in the mix.

The worst thing that could happen is the Beebs' first choice rejecting the role. This will not only leave the broadcaster red-faced, but whoever comes next will know they were second choice.

It can be a tough job. Not only does it require long hours on the weekend, but it is also a highly publicised position. Lineker has been outspoken in his time and has not changed his ways for the show. There isn't only the pressure to live up to his talent, but also his steel-faced nature.