Kelly Cates 'to join three-person team' as Match of the Day hosts to replace Gary Lineker

Kelly Cates is set to leave Sky Sports to become one of three presenters of Match of the Day from the start of next season.

There has been speculation over who would front the flagship show for the BBC after it was announced last month that Gary Lineker would be stepping down at the end of the current season.

According to the Daily Mail, Cates has agreed to form a three-person team of presenters along with Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan. The trio will split presenting duties of Match of the Day and Match of the Day 2.

It is reported that Sky bosses are saddened by the departure of Cates, who has been a regular on their coverage of Premier League matches in recent seasons.

The 49-year-old, daughter of Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish, does already have experience with the BBC, regularly presenting on Radio 5 Live.

Chapman’s involvement in the presenting team is no surprise, having been the regular host of Match of the Day 2 over the past decade.

He has also presented the BBC’s Champions League highlights show this season, while Chapman has been a regular presence on many of the BBC’s most well-known shows, including Final Score and 5Live’s long-running Monday Night Club.

Like Chapman, Logan has been a versatile presenter across many different sports and shows for the BBC. She has fronted coverage of the Olympics and Six Nations rugby, as well as Champions League football for Amazon Prime this season.