'Take a Bow Son...or Daughter'

‘It’s Anchorman! Not Anchorlady!’ Ron Burgundy and his cronies weren’t happy when forced to move with the times in what Andy Gray and Richard Keys may regard as that newsroom documentary. It’s now all change at Sky as well with the two big jobs up for grabs after the most turbulent of weeks. The broadcasters may be all for gender equality these days but the odds of a female anchor heading their team are high with Paddy Power pricing Gabby Logan as an 18/1 outsider.

Keys fell on his sword yesterday evening to follow hot on the heels of his ‘mate’ Andy Gray. ‘The world went mad,’ claimed the apologetic Keys, and so it must have seemed as the 21st century came hurtling towards the presenter as if from nowhere. But the world still has the potential to get even crazier if the shortening odds on James Corden becoming the next football presenter are anything to go by. The Gavin and Stacey star is now just 6/1 with Victor Chandler to replace Keys and presumably launch the new Sky Sports Comedy HD channel. Perhaps the first half of the broadcaster’s current conundrum would be solved more easily if Jell Stelling can work around his Countdown commitments and take up the post himself. The Soccer Saturday host is now 2/1 favourite with PaddyPower to take up the role.

As for job two, formerly the Andy Gray role, the bookies think it may pay to be an out-of-work former manager if you want to be picked for your punditry. Among the favoured candidates are Glenn Hoddle, Sam Allardyce and Graeme Souness who is 9/2 with VictorChandler. However, all the smart money is on the Thomas Cook beach model Jamie Redknapp getting promoted through the ranks.

Jamie, who also finds time to shop at Marks and Spencers and play on the Wii, is already highly regarded for his innovative use of the word ‘literally,’ which lights up his football analysis. He has previously claimed that Gareth Bale ‘literally’ has three lungs, which is currently unconfirmed. He accused another player of ‘literally’ leaving Ben Haim for dead, which sounds suspiciously like a matter for the police. Is it any wonder that Mr Redknapp is 4/6 hot favourite with PaddyPower to get the big job?