Jeff Stelling reveals first job offer after announcing Sky Sports exit

Jeff Stelling claims that GB News offered him a job just minutes after he announced he was parting ways with Sky Sports Soccer Saturday.

The 69-year-old kicked off his broadcasting career as a reporter for Middlesbrough FC on Radio Tees in the late 1970s, before moving on to LBC Radio's Sportswatch programme in the early '80s. After stints with BBC Radio 2, TV-am, Channel 4, Eurosport and British Satellite Broadcasting, he made his way to Sky in 1992 to present horse and greyhound racing, snooker and darts.

However, he picked up a role on Sports Saturday in 1994, which later rebranded under the Soccer Saturday banner four years later - and the rest is history. After skyrocketing the show thanks to his charisma and quick wit on the microphone alongside a panel of fellow pundits, Stelling announced in October 2021 that the 2021/22 Premier League season would be his last.

However, by March 2022, he had decided to stay on for one last dance in the 2022/23 campaign before parting ways with the show. Thanks to his popularity, Stelling didn't have to look far for fresh work after his Sky Sports exit, with a number of organisations coming knocking for his signature.

One of which was GB News just 20 minutes after he had announced that he was leaving Sky. Writing in his book; Saturday Afternoon Fever, the pundit said: "When I announced on air that I would be leaving Sky in May 2023, my first job offer was e-mailed to me within 20 minutes.

"It came from GB News. I was flattered of course, but my kids already call me a gammon, so it was an easy decision to decline," Stelling joked.

Image: Getty Images) Getty Images)

Despite Stelling's rejection, a number of high-profile names have teamed up with the organisation over the years, including Nigel Farage, Eamonn Holmes and Jacob Rees-Mogg.

However, Stelling's heart never seemed to be set on making his way to the broadcaster. Instead, he signed a deal with talkSPORT to present the broadcaster's breakfast show alongside Ally McCoist every Monday and Tuesday between 6am and 10pm.

Saturday Afternoon Fever by Jeff Stelling (Headline, £22)

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