Simon Thomas to replace Jeff Stelling as Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday host

Sky Sports have announced that Simon Thomas will be the new host of Soccer Saturday from the start of next season, with former Premier League referee Mike Dean joining the line-up in a new studio. Thomas previously spent more than a decade at Sky Sports, presenting their news coverage before becoming the lead presenter across live football coverage including the Premier League and EFL.

He replaces Jeff Stelling, who stepped down at the end of last season after presenting the show for over 25 years. Sky Sports have also confirmed ex-Premier League referee Dean will join the show ‘to offer in-depth analysis and insight on the biggest decisions from around the grounds’.

Jeff Stelling’s Departure

The 55-year-old has ended his 28-year career as a professional official in which he refereed over 550 matches in the top-flight and took charge of the FA Cup and League Cup finals at Wembley. After confirming his departure from Soccer Saturday, Stelling said: ‘I’ve been at Sky for more than 30 years and loved every moment of my time as part of the Soccer Saturday team. 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! It is groundhog day, it is that time of the year, every year, where I announce I am leaving Sky Sports and Gillette Soccer Saturday. But this time it is true.’

New Look Soccer Saturday

In a ‘fresh look’ for the show, Soccer Saturday will be broadcast from a new studio. Pundits will include Paul Merson, Clinton Morrison, Michael Dawson, Sue Smith, Kris Boyd and Tim Sherwood. Thomas is looking forward to his new role and said: ‘I am absolutely delighted to be joining Soccer Saturday as the new host. It is a show I have watched and loved for many years and I am honoured to be taking over from Jeff Stelling who has been an incredible ambassador for the show for so long.

‘I am also really looking forward to working with Mike Dean who I know will bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the show. I can’t wait to get started in August!’

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