Sky Sports reveal their revamped punditry team for the new season after a string of sackings… with Roy Keane, Micah Richards and Patrice Evra in the studio and Adebayo Akinfenwa and Joleon Lescott among the new faces on Soccer Saturday
- Roy Keane, Micah Richards and Patrice Evra are now Sky Sports’ lead pundits
- In recent weeks the broadcasting giants has cleared out some household names
- The Soccer Saturday team will see the likes of Adebayo Akinfenwa come aboard
Sky Sports’ major shake-up of their punditry teams for the coming season will see Roy Keane lead the way, alongside Micah Richards and Patrice Evra.
The broadcasting giant has been revamping their line-up in recent weeks ahead of football’s return, by clearing out some household names in order to take a refreshed approach. Sky grabbed headlines last month by sacking long-serving stars on Soccer Saturday in Matt Le Tissier, Phil Thompson and Charlie Nicholas.
Their live football coverage will see Keane, Richards and Evra take centre-stage in the studio alongside a match day host, as Sky Sports televise some of the biggest clashes in the country.
Roy Keane and Micah Richards will head up Sky’s new-look punditry team this season
Patrice Evra will join as a lead pundit, after impressing in front of the cameras last season
Since his introduction to the studio, Richards has gained fans with his knowledge and charm
Former Man City and Aston Villa defender Richards has earned rave reviews since entering the world of punditry, due to his infectious charm and knowledge of the game.
Keane, meanwhile, has been on Sky’s books for some time, offering frank and hard-hitting opinions on the day’s performances – becoming renowned for his scathing assessment of various players.
The Manchester United legend will be joined by another former Red Devil in Evra, who has also been making steadily more appearances in the studio over the past 18 months.
Fan favourites Jamie Carragher, Gary Neville, Graeme Souness and Jamie Redknapp will continue to analyse and provide insight on matchdays also, along with their Monday Night Football segment.
Charismatic Wycombe Wanderers star Adebayo Akinfenwa is also set for Soccer Saturday
The outspoken Tim Sherwood will also soon be joining the popular weekend show
The broadcaster have also announced some new faces for their Soccer Saturday football show after axing Le Tisser, Thompson and Nicholas.
Regular host Jeff Stelling will be joined by Wycombe star Adebayo Akinfenwa, who is set to enter the world of punditry, along with former Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood, Robbie Fowler and Joleon Lescott.
Stelling recently admitted he could quit the show after being left devastated by the sackings of his close friends. The presenter was stunned to be told of Sky’s decision to axe the Soccer Saturday veterans, which came out of the blue as all three had one year left on their contracts.
Paul Merson has been retained by Sky to work on Soccer Saturday and his position is unclear.
Jeff Stelling could yet quit the popular Soccer Saturday following the sacking of his colleagues
Stelling’s contract is understood to contain a lengthy notice period so he may start the season presenting the show unless he reaches an agreement with Sky Sports.
Le Tissier, Thompson and Nicholas were the second regular punditry team with whom Stelling had worked after the original line-up of George Best, Rodney Marsh and Clive Allen was dismantled by Sky.
Now the popular presenter is weighing up whether he has the appetite to attempt to forge a similarly strong working relationship with a new team.