Sky Sports news presenter Rob Wotton has tearful farewell on final show
Sky Sports News presenter Rob Wotton delivered an emotional goodbye to viewers as he confirmed his departure from the broadcaster. Wotton, the popular host of the 'The Football Show' spent more than 25 years working for the channel.
But bosses at Sky decided to pull the plug on the popular show where pundits Stephen Warnock and Sue Smith joined Wotton to discuss results, controversies and stand-out performances from the weekends' action. It also featured former ex Premier League ref Dermot Gallagher who provided an insight during 'Ref Watch'.
As the Mirror reports, a decision had been made to scrap the show completely, with Wotton announcing his own exit. Wotton joined Sky in 1998 and helped present coverage across all sports.
The Football Show became his prime role, while he also regularly presented on Sky Sports News. His final show came on Monday and he delivered a tearful farewell to viewers.
"It's been an absolute pleasure. I came here in my 20s and I thought I was only coming for a couple of weeks," he said. "And look, they haven't been able to get rid of me. I keep turning up, maybe one day they'll pay me!"
Warnock and Smith paid their own tributes to him, while staff and friends gathered at the back of the set to give Wotton a standing ovation. Wotton is the latest departure in a string of exits from Sky.
Jeff Stelling, Jimmy Bullard and John Fendley have all exited, along with several high-profile reporters such as Geoff Shreeves. The Football Show follows Soccer AM in being given the axe by Sky chiefs.
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But workers are thought to be 'bewildered' by the latest item to fall victim, with Sky Sports currently undergoing a 'restructure' that is seeing seven reporters and presenters leave.
Insiders told The Mail that 'the changes are aimed at making them more agile and able to concentrate on breaking news stories across platforms". Gallagher's Ref Watch will remain in a new format elsewhere.
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was known to be a big fan of The Football Show. The German especially enjoyed coverage from ex-official Gallagher in his analysis of refereeing incidents.
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