Chapman, Cates, Scott - Gary Lineker's Match of the Day replacement odds as exit confirmed

The BBC are on the hunt for their next Match of the Day presenter after Gary Lineker's exit from the iconic show was confirmed on Tuesday.

Lineker has signed a contract extension to present the corporation's coverage of the FA Cup next season and the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico but will no longer be in the hot seat for the Premier League highlights package every Saturday night during the campaign. The former England, Tottenham Hotspur, Barcelona, Leicester City and Everton striker first hosted Match of the Day in 1999 and by the time he leaves the show, he will have been hosting for 26 years.

In a statement confirming his exit, the BBC's Director of Sport Alex Kay-Jelski said: "After 25 seasons Gary is stepping down from MOTD. We want to thank him for everything he has done for the show, which continues to attract millions of viewers each week.

"He’ll be hugely missed on the show but we’re so happy he is staying with the BBC to present live football." The statement announcing his exit confirmed future plans for Match of the Day will be confirmed in due course.

Understandably, the conversation is turning to who will be replacing Lineker in the studio next season. According to Oddschecker, the current frontrunner is Mark Chapman.

Affectionately known as Chappers by his colleagues, the 51-year-old has been hosting Match of the Day 2 since August 2013. Alongside that, he is a regular on BBC Radio 5 Live presenting their sport coverage on Saturdays as well as the Monday Night Club.

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In front of the camera, he has also been presenting live coverage of the Carabao Cup on Sky Sports. Chapman's BBC Radio 5 Live colleague Kelly Cates is also in the running for the prestigious job.

She presents sports programmes on the BBC in midweek and hosts live coverage of the Premier League on Sky Sports at the weekend. Gabby Logan and Alex Scott are in the running to replace Lineker too having built good careers in broadcasting at the BBC.

Next Match of the Day host odds

• Mark Chapman - 6/4

• Kelly Cates - 4/1

• Gabby Logan and Alex Scott - 6/1

• Kelly Somers and Eilidh Barbour - 8/1

• Laura Woods - 10/1

• Dan Walker, Jason Mohammad and Micah Richards - 12/1