SIMON JORDAN: If the BBC pick Gary Lineker replacement based on diversity, inclusion and rainbow flags then I fear for Match of the Day’s future – here are the outside candidates I would choose

Gary Lineker is a clever man. He has plenty else going on to ensure he’ll do well without Match of the Day. But will the BBC’s flagship football show survive without him as presenter?

I think so, as long as they choose a replacement based on merit rather than making diversity and inclusion the primary criteria.

I certainly don’t want my iconic Saturday football highlights show littered with social messages and a group of must-haves rather than should-haves, otherwise it will quickly follow that former entertaining show Football Focus down the plughole of viewing figures.

For Lineker’s successor, all I say is get the best in class. Don’t allow a situation where a 24-year-old producer decides the next generation of presenter needs to have an opinion on rainbow flags.

So, who is next in the hot seat? We know it won’t be Jermaine Jenas for starters. And Mark Chapman is lucky I’m not on the selection panel because I haven’t forgotten him downing tools last year when the BBC had their issue with Lineker and it wasn’t really any of his business.

Mark Chapman has frequently presented the show’s Sunday programme Match of the Day 2, while Kelly Somers is another contender to take over hosting duties from Lineker

The list of bookies favourites to replace Lineker, including Alex Scott, is hardly an inspiring one

Match of the Day isn’t one of those programmes you actually watch for the presenter. You tune in to see the highlights of all the big matches.

But that’s not to say the identity of the front man is irrelevant. Although it’s not particularly difficult to read an autocue, if you have somebody dreadful who doesn’t have charisma, that’s a problem.

It depends what the BBC want the show to be. If they want it to have continued gravitas and a professional in charge who can manage the opinions of others rather than shrieking their own, my co-presenter at talkSPORT Jim White is ideal.

For those who shout nepotism, I couldn’t care less. He’s very, very good at what he does and while not in the first flush of youth he conveys more energy and dynamism than broadcasters half his age. I whipped him into shape so he’s better than ever!

On the other hand, if the BBC are desperate to reflect a new era of media on Match of the Day and want a personality to dominate, Piers Morgan can do whatever he puts his mind to. He thinks he knows about football – the only question would be if they could afford him.

Match of the Day is an iconic programme. One of the reasons the Premier League took off was because it had a terrestrial outlet for its product in addition to the live element on Sky Sports.

It hasn’t lost its place in the schedule. It is still a very good show. Whoever gets it, I hope the baton is again passed as successfully as it was between Messrs Hill, Lynam and Lineker.

The list of bookies favourites, led by Chapman and Alex Scott, is hardly inspiring. Maybe the BBC need to look outside.