Sky Sports planning MORE big changes with Soccer Saturday faves at risk of axe

SKY SPORTS are allegedly planning more job cuts after the news Soccer Am is being axed.

Its football reporters have reportedly been told this week to reapply for their jobs.

And some of the “longest-serving and most popular reporters who provide live updates for Soccer Saturday” are at risk.

Sky’s football department made a host of huge job cuts following the Covid pandemic with long-serving studio analysts Phil Thompson, Charlie Nicholas and Matt Le Tissier being axed in 2020 as the show looked to head in a new direction.

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That led to host Jeff Stelling announcing his intention to quit before he performed a U-turn to reveal that he was staying for this season.

Now Soccer Saturday could have a very different feel as a number of renowned reporters sweat on their Sky future, according to the Daily Mail.

We revealed yesterday how cult Sky Sports show Soccer AM is set to be axed at the end of the season after nearly 30 years on the air.

Bosses have decided to bring the long-running fan favourite to an end with just ten episodes left.

That will take the morning programme to the end of the current season.

The last episode will be aired on Saturday 27 May, the day before the end of the Premier League season.

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Staff were told on Tuesday that the programme would be axed and they were also informed that they would be made redundant in May.

Soccer AM has enjoyed massive success since it first aired on Sky Sports in 1995 thanks to its laddish humour.

It was previously hosted by Helen Chamberlain and Tim Lovejoy.

Lovejoy now presents Sunday Brunch on Channel 4 while Chamberlain rescues animals on her farm.

These days it is presented by John Fendley and ex-footballer Jimmy Bullard.

Both are understood to be “fuming” at the announcement.

A Sky Spokesperson says “Soccer AM has played an important role in our coverage of football for the past three decades, and we continually adapt to the evolving needs of our customers.

“We now go into a period of consultation to discuss the proposed changes with our people. We are unable to provide more detail while these consultations are underway.”