Sky Sports’ veteran touchline reporter Geoff Shreeves is to leave the channel with immediate effect.
Mail Sport can reveal that Shreeves has become the latest big name casualty of the channel’s drive to cut costs.
It is understood that Shreeves, 58, was offered the opportunity to continue working for Sky but on a reduced salary. Instead he chose to walk away and is already considering other offers. He is expected to be back on TV soon.
The news comes amidst a blizzard of changes at Sky. Lead commentator Martin Tyler revealed two weeks ago that he has covered his last game for the station, Graeme Souness recently left his role as a pundit, while Sky have requested that a host of reporting staff reapply for their jobs.
Mainstays such as Guy Havord and Bianca Westwood are already known to be on the way out.
But the departure of Shreeves leaves a huge hole in Sky’s football coverage and comes at the end of a season that saw revered Soccer Saturday host Jeff Stelling also work his final show.
Shreeves, a former estate agent, has worked for the channel for 30 years and was one of Sky’s most recognisable faces, interviewing players and managers before and after Premier League games. He is also a former presenter of the now defunct Debate and Sunday Supplement programmes.
Shreeves told Mail Sport today: ‘There’s an old saying that you always have to know the best time to leave even the greatest party.
‘And that’s what my thirty two years at Sky have been – the most fantastic party I could ever imagined attending.
‘From the first kick of a ball in the live coverage of the Premier League to Manchester City’s title celebrations last season, with plenty in between! I have been incredibly fortunate to work for a ground-breaking company who have helped revolutionise football.
‘But the time is right to move on. Sky have been incredibly generous in recognition of my service and I can’t speak more highly of so many people I’ve worked with there over three decades.
‘I now have the opportunity for new experiences which I’m looking forward to announcing in the very near future.’
Gary Hughes, Sky Sports’ Director of Football, said: ‘Geoff has been an integral part of the Sky Sports football team and the best tunnel reporter in the business, interviewing the biggest names at the biggest games for over 30 years. Geoff leaves with our sincere thanks and best wishes for the future. As Sir Alex always said, Well done, Geoff!'”
Shreeves began his career at Sky as a floor manager in 1991 before rising through the ranks to become one of the most respected and trusted TV reporters in the game. Over his three decades at Sky, he developed relationships with managers such as Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho.
On the day Manchester City lifted the Premier League trophy at the Etihad Stadium last month, manager Pep Guardiola declined every contractual post-match interview apart from his chat with Shreeves.
Sky’s number two reporter Patrick Davison could be in line to replace Shreeves though Sky could also choose not to recruit from within.
Source: Skysports
