CLIVE TYLDESLEY LEFT ‘BAFFLED’ BY ITV DEMOTION
AFTER 22 years, he’s found himself offside with his bosses at iTV – and clive Tyldesley says he has no idea why.
The 65- year- old broadcaster says he is ‘upset’ and ‘baffled’ by the decision to replace him as lead football commentator with 42-year-old Sam Matterface.
Jeff Stelling, 65, who presents Gillette Soccer Saturday for Sky Sports, accused iTV of ageism. He tweeted: ‘clive does more prep and stats than me – and his are useful! Oh, i forgot, clive, you are 65. Ageism alive and well in Uk broadcasting.’
But an iTV source said age was ‘not a factor’ in the decision.
Tyldesley, who has commentated on four World cups for iTV, will remain as the broadcaster’s No 2 commentator next season.
He said he had not ‘stepped down’ but had been ‘moved aside’.
in a video posted on Twitter, Tyldesley
said: ‘Quite a few people have been in touch with me, asking me to react, to comment.
‘i’m not sure that would be a very good idea at the moment.
‘i was told about three weeks ago, so i have had some time to get around the decision. But i haven’t got my head around it. To be clear, this is iTV’s decision not mine, and i’m upset, annoyed, baffled.
‘i would have been entrusted with commentating the Euro 2020 final for them less than 48 hours ago but now i won’t be commentating on any of the big England games in the coming year. i love this job and it’s gone. Why? i don’t know. i do not know exactly why this decision has been taken.’
Matterface is chief football commentator at TalkSPORT and is known to iTV listeners, having covered several major tournaments, including the 2018 World cup in Russia.
Tyldesley said a producer he worked with asked him if he had any health issues or if it was ‘something he’d done’.
He added: ‘i’ve done nothing wrong. i’m the same broadcaster, the same person i’ve always been. Like me or hate me, you’re entitled to do either. Like everybody else in football, i am a matter of opinion – i totally get that.
‘And i totally respect iTV’s right to change their opinion of me. iTV has been really good for me and, yes, i’ll carry on as their No 2 commentator.
‘But let me make it quite clear – i have not stepped down, i have been moved aside. i’ve not even thought about winding down to retirement.
‘There are thousands of people in this country facing up to job losses and disappointments far more serious than this. i am a lucky boy, i love my work and i’ve got plenty on.
‘So i’m not making a statement or anything like that. This is not a grave matter of state.
‘i’m just trying to explain, just telling you that i’m really, really disappointed about this.
‘i don’t know why i’m being replaced. i’m well, i’m able, i’m available and i am just going to miss the England games so much, even more than i miss the champions League games.’
Tyldesley became iTV’s main football commentator when Brian Moore retired after the 1998 World cup.
Last year cricket commentators Sir ian Botham, 64, and David Gower, 63, did not have their Sky contracts renewed, with Gower saying there was ‘an element of implied ageism’ in the decision. And earlier this year, BBc racing commentator cornelius Lysaght, 55, was axed after almost 30 years as part of a ‘changing of the guard’.
Niall Sloane, director of iTV Sport, said: ‘On behalf of iTV Sport, i would like to thank clive for his superb work leading our commentary on some of the biggest occasions in world football throughout his outstanding career with us.
‘We are very glad he will continue with us and look forward to working with him on many more occasions in the future.’
‘I’m upset and annoyed’