BIG EARS TO BIG FEARS

Beeb's dilemma as host with most signs off

- JEREMY CROSS

DID he jump or was he pushed?

Only those at the heart of Gary Lineker’s departure from Match of the Day will know the answer to this question.

But one thing we do know is that Lineker’s exit from its flagship show leaves the BBC with yet another huge problem to fix.

It’s been suggested Lineker was ‘open’ to discussing a new contract.

That he would have considered remaining in one of the most high- profile jobs in television.

Yet it has also been reported that new BBC Director of Sport Alex Kay-Jelski wanted Lineker gone. That he wanted to take MOTD in a new direction.

At the time of the announcement of his appointment in April, Kay-Jelski said: “I am so excited to be joining BBC Sport, and to have the chance to work with so many incredible people.