Jeff Stelling believes nobody but Mark Chapman should be in the running to host Match of the Day when Gary Lineker steps down at the end of the season.
Earlier this month, the BBC confirmed that Lineker will be leaving their flagship highlights show next year. He will remain on their books until after the World Cup in 2026, at which point he will leave the company altogether.
His replacement is yet to be announced but Stelling is adamant that Chapman is the only candidate worthy of stepping into Lineker's shoes.
In an interview with The Telegraph, the former Soccer Saturday host said: "Chappers is the man for the job. Great presenter, nice sense of humour, good rapport with the guests. He’s got to be the man, surely."
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Chapman already hosts Match of the Day 2 and has fronted coverage of the NFL and rugby league for the BBC in the past. He has also been presenting live coverage of the Carabao Cup on Sky Sports for the last two seasons.
Mark Lawrenson, who served as a pundit on Match of the Day for many years, also believes Chapman should be given the BBC's most coveted sporting role.
Discussing who could replace Lineker, he told Metro: "I know there is a lot of speculation over Gary at the moment. Would it surprise me if he left at the end of the season? Possibly no.
"He has earned the right to make his own decision, there is no doubt there whatever. And in Chappers, there is a ready-made replacement if it goes that way. It will be up to Gary."
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The likes of Alex Scott and Gabby Logan have also been tipped as potential candidates to replace Lineker, but it remains to be seen which direction the BBC will go in.
Lineker has already told Match of the Day bosses who he would like to get the job, but kept his lips sealed when quizzed on his preference on the Rest is Football podcast.
"Obviously I don't know who it'll be and I would never tell publicly my preference," he said. "I don't think that'd be the right thing to do but whoever it is, I would say be yourself."
Opening up on his decision to step down, Lineker added: "I feel this is now the right time. I think [with] the next contract they're looking to do Match of the Day slightly differently, so I think it makes sense for someone else to take the helm."
