Dedworth
16th May 2013, 18:06
The TV veteran, 57 — notorious for his Saturday night pronouncements of “unbelievable” — will call it a day after next year’s World Cup.
His decision not to renew his contract follows uproar when it emerged the BBC was paying him £1.5million a year while pleading poverty and firing staff.
The storm saw the ex-Liverpool and Scotland defender last year take a £500,000 pay cut to £1million.
Last night Hansen, who has been a TV fixture for more than 20 years, was said to want to quit the small screen for good. BT had been tipped to sign him up for its new sports channel — which will boast exclusive coverage of 38 Premier League matches next season.
But a source close to him said: “Alan is sad to go but he’s had a fair run at it. It was more or less a mutual decision between him and the BBC.
“He’s not currently considering any other offers and is looking forward to some time off. He is nearly 60 now and he’s got more than enough money to retire.”
Hansen’s vow to go comes just weeks after Match of the Day’s host Gary Lineker was persuaded to stay.
The former England striker, 52 — also famed for his Walkers crisp adverts — had been courted by NBC in the US.
He was offered a new seven-figure deal despite critics of the BBC’s flagship soccer show slamming it as too dull.
The exit of Hansen could be seized on by the corporation to shake up the long-running format — affecting the futures of remaining pundits Alan Shearer, 42, and Mark Lawrenson, 55.
Bosses are believed to have recently approached former England star Phil Neville, 36, with the offer of a big money deal.
They are said to have been impressed by his brother Gary’s enthusiastic appearances and match analysis turns on Sky Sports.
Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/4929428/Alan-Hansen-quits-Match-of-the-Day.html#ixzz2TTZvtZW3
A great shame we have to wait another 12 months for him to go - worrying that those other 2 neanderthals Lawrenson and Shearer are still on the payroll and that Phil Nevilles name is being touted
His decision not to renew his contract follows uproar when it emerged the BBC was paying him £1.5million a year while pleading poverty and firing staff.
The storm saw the ex-Liverpool and Scotland defender last year take a £500,000 pay cut to £1million.
Last night Hansen, who has been a TV fixture for more than 20 years, was said to want to quit the small screen for good. BT had been tipped to sign him up for its new sports channel — which will boast exclusive coverage of 38 Premier League matches next season.
But a source close to him said: “Alan is sad to go but he’s had a fair run at it. It was more or less a mutual decision between him and the BBC.
“He’s not currently considering any other offers and is looking forward to some time off. He is nearly 60 now and he’s got more than enough money to retire.”
Hansen’s vow to go comes just weeks after Match of the Day’s host Gary Lineker was persuaded to stay.
The former England striker, 52 — also famed for his Walkers crisp adverts — had been courted by NBC in the US.
He was offered a new seven-figure deal despite critics of the BBC’s flagship soccer show slamming it as too dull.
The exit of Hansen could be seized on by the corporation to shake up the long-running format — affecting the futures of remaining pundits Alan Shearer, 42, and Mark Lawrenson, 55.
Bosses are believed to have recently approached former England star Phil Neville, 36, with the offer of a big money deal.
They are said to have been impressed by his brother Gary’s enthusiastic appearances and match analysis turns on Sky Sports.
Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/4929428/Alan-Hansen-quits-Match-of-the-Day.html#ixzz2TTZvtZW3
A great shame we have to wait another 12 months for him to go - worrying that those other 2 neanderthals Lawrenson and Shearer are still on the payroll and that Phil Nevilles name is being touted