Sky Sports AXE half of their football reporting team in brutal cost-cutting move

Sky Sports have axed half of their football reporting team in a brutal cost-cutting exercise which could also see the exit of veteran interviewer Geoff Shreeves.

Mail Sport has learned that Shreeves has been asked to take a significant pay-cut if he wants to extend his stay at the broadcaster he first joined when the Premier League started in 1992.

Shreeves is considering his options, as with 31 years of employment at Sky he would be entitled to a large redundancy package should he choose to leave and may attract offers elsewhere.

The rest of Sky’s decisions have been made after a consultation over redundancies in April, with six of their 13-strong team of football reporters being cut, although some chose to go voluntarily and others may be offered alternative roles. 

Experienced and well-respected journalists including Guy Havord, Dickie Davis, Bianca Westwood, Greg Whelan, Lynsey Hooper and Jaydee Dyer will not be continuing in their current roles. 

Geoff Shreeves has been asked to take a significant pay-cut in order to remain at Sky Sports 

Both Lynsey Hooper (left) and Bianca Westwood (right) were cut from Sky Sports’ line-up

David Craig (left) and Emma Saunders (right) were two of the few reports to survive the cut

Emma Saunders appears to be the only female reporter to survive the cull, along with David Craig, Patrick Davidson, Jonathan Oakes, Johnny Phillips and Luke Shanley.

Sky’s decision to remove half of their football reporting team will raise further questions over the future of their flagship results programme Soccer Saturday, which is currently without a presenter after Jeff Stelling confirmed he was leaving at the end of the season. Sky declined to comment.

BLADES BUDGET CUT SHORT 

Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom has been given a transfer budget of just £20million this summer, despite the club securing a £170m windfall by winning promotion to the Premier League.

With the proposed takeover from Nigerian businessman Dozy Mmobuosi stalling and an offer from an American consortium collapsing, owner Prince Abdullah is planning to continue running United on a shoe-string budget, while banking the majority of the Premier League’s television income.

Having won promotion despite operating under a transfer embargo, Heckingbottom is resigned to working with limited funds and his immediate priority is to re-sign out-of-contract players such as John Fleck, Jack Robinson and Ben Osborn.

Meanwhile, Paul Heckingbottom will get just £20million to work with ahead of Sheffield United’s return to the top-flight 

KEYS AND GRAY TO STAY

Richard Keys and Andy Gray have signed new contracts to continue presenting Premier League coverage for BeIN Sports in Qatar after their previous deals expired at the end of the season.

The pair have spent a decade as the faces of BeIN’s English-language coverage in the Middle East and North Africa. They returned to television after a two-year spell at talkSPORT, who signed them after they were sacked by Sky Sports for a series of sexist remarks.

Keys and Gray’s new contracts are understood to be one-year rolling deals, giving both parties flexibility.

HANDS-ON MARATHE 

Leeds vice-chairman Paraag Marathe has wasted no time in taking a more hands-on approach at Elland Road since the club confirmed they had agreed the terms of a full sale to 49ers Enterprises last Friday.

The American is understood to have lined up interviews with several prospective new managers for next week, including former Norwich boss Daniel Farke and West Bromwich manager Carlos Corberan.

He has also called several senior Leeds players to reassure them that they have big plans for the club, despite relegation back to the Championship.

Leeds vice-chairman Paraag Marathe has already begun his hands-on approach at the club