JEFF STELLING has promised go one step further than Gary Lineker if his beloved Hartlepool get to the Championship.
The departing host memorably presented Match of the Day in his PANTS after Leicester won the Prem in 2015-2016.
But with Hartlepool languishing down in 13th in the National League, fans will likely have to wait a long time for Stelling to mimic Lineker.
Life-long Hartlepool fan and club president Stelling hasn’t stopped dreaming about the Pools’ ascent back into the EFL after suffering relegation from League Two in 2023.
But stranger things have happened – remember Leicester winning the Premier League title at 5000-1 eight seasons ago?
And all after narrowly escaping relegation 12 months earlier.
Few believed Leicester could win a Prem before Liverpool and Lineker promised to do MOTD in his undies if his hometown club got over the line.
The Foxes ended up winning the league that year by a whopping 10 points ahead of their closest title rivals, Arsenal.
And Lineker made headlines when he was forced to grab his white briefs and present MOTD in front of millions.
But that is nothing compared to the lengths talkSPORT host Stelling is prepared to go.
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Asked whether he would emulate Lineker: “I would host talkSPORT breakfast without my pants in order for Hartlepool to get into the Championship.
“League Two would be fine, never mind the Championship.”
Meanwhile, Lineker will leave MOTD at the end of the season after 25 years in the hot seat.
The 63-year-old will also quit the BBC after anchoring the Corporation’s 2025/26 FA Cup coverage and the next World Cup.
And just two weeks later Lineker’s newest project has been unveiled as he prepares to get involved in Baller League UK.
The football tournament was launched in Germany earlier this year and includes the likes of Mats Hummels and Lukasz Podolski.
GARY LINEKER dropped the shock news that he is QUITTING Match of the Day.
The popular presenter, 63, took over hosting duties on the flagship BBC programme from Des Lynam in 1999.
But after more than 25 years in the studio hotseat, he has called time on his MOTD gig.
But as part of a huge shake-up, the BBC is considering rotating the presenters on a weekly basis.
So with Lineker vacating the chair, new names will step into his giant boots. But who could they be?
MARK CHAPMAN
Chapman, 51, is the obvious early favourite to follow on from Lineker as MOTD presenter.
He already has the gig as MOTD2 host on a Sunday night plus landed the presenting job for the new BBC Champions League highlights show.
ALEX SCOTT
Scott gets the nod from the Beeb bosses when Lineker is away.
The former right-back, 40, is used to presenting the Saturday night show as well as live match coverage – plus ticks the box as a former England international.
GABBY LOGAN
Like Scott, Logan, 51, is one of the understudies to step in when Lineker is not available.
She has done most gigs since joining the BBC in 2007, including Olympics, Sports Personality of the Year and Final Score.
MICAH RICHARDS
Lineker’s top pick to replace him is exuberant former Man City defender Richards.
The departing host told his close pal, 36, on their Stick to Football podcast: “I’d love to see you take over Micah, I think you’d be brilliant in the chair.”
JASON MOHAMMAD
Mohammad could earn the “promotion” from Final Score to Match of the Day.
The 51-year-old Welshman – who took over from Logan in 2013 – is one of the BBC’s top earners already and is more senior than fellow Final Score and BBC Sport broadcaster Kelly Somers, who could in theory become the main live host for the afternoon slot.
JEFF STELLING
He couldn’t, could he? While Lineker has been the face of Saturday night TV for football fans for years, the face of the afternoons was Stelling in his role as Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday presenter.
He would bring plenty of on-screen charisma, wit and legendary TV expertise – but at nearly 70 and currently with talkSPORT, the Hartlepool fan would not be a cheap or long-term appointment.
