I felt BBC wanted me to leave Match of the Day, says Gary Lineker

Gary Lineker has said he believes the BBC wanted him to leave Match of the Day as he was negotiating a new contract last year.
The presenter and the BBC jointly announced in November that he would be stepping down from the flagship football programme, although he will still host World Cup and FA Cup coverage.
Asked by the BBC’s Amol Rajan why he would choose to leave given his successful tenure, Lineker said: “Well, perhaps they want me to leave. There was the sense of that.”
The BBC didn’t comment on that suggestion, but at the time Lineker’s exit was announced, the corporation’s director of sport described him as a “world-class presenter”.
However, the BBC noted in the same statement that Match of the Day “continually evolves for changing viewing habits”.

Source: BBC | Language: English