Mark Saggers calls out the BBC for making an attempt to ‘cancel a part of our historical past’

Former BBC Sports activities Report presenter Mark Saggers has hit out on the broadcaster’s choice to ‘cancel half our historical past’ by ditching the categorised soccer outcomes on the programme, labelling the transfer ‘hideous’.

The choice was put all the way down to the BBC needing extra time to construct as much as the 5.30pm Premier League match on a Saturday. However it has been met with an outcry after many years of custom had been unceremoniously allotted with, drawing the ire of BBC legends Des Lynam, John Motson and Mark Lawrenson.

Saggers, 63, started his broadcasting profession with BBC Radio Cambridgeshire and moved on to sport in 1989 earlier than becoming a member of Sky three years later. He returned to the BBC in 2001 and his common Sunday present, Sport on 5.

He tweeted on Tuesday evening: ‘I first labored for Sports activities Report on Sport on Two within the 80s and having had the privilege of claiming, ‘It is 5 o’clock and time for Sports activities Report — and first listed here are the soccer outcomes with (former outcomes reader) James Alexander Gordon,’ this newest crass choice by the BBC to cancel a part of our historical past is hideous.’

Tradition Secretary Nadine Dorries yesterday added to the strain on the BBC to reverse their choice, saying: ‘Whereas it’s important for the BBC to maintain tempo with technological change, dropping such an establishment in favour of ‘build-up’ reporting strikes me because the flawed choice and will probably be a bitter capsule for followers to swallow.’ 

Saggers has added his voice to a rising checklist of notable broadcasters from the company’s soccer protection down the years to have criticised the transfer. 

Lynam, who introduced Sports activities Report from 1970 to 1977, mentioned: ‘It appears low cost. It has been going for 50 to 60 years, so why change it in any respect? It seems like change for change’s sake.’

The 79-year-old, whose BBC hyperlinks return to 1968, added: ‘Some folks really feel like they should make modifications and freshen issues up; new division heads placing their stamp on issues. I keep in mind somebody got here in and altered the theme tune to Match of the Day. They nearly burned down Tv Centre!

‘The BBC quickly modified their thoughts on that and hopefully they are going to accomplish that right here.’

Lawrenson, 65, a former Match of the Day common, added: ‘I labored for the BBC for 25 years and I like it. I additionally perceive it, or not less than I believed I did. Sure issues needs to be sacrosanct and that is certainly one of them.  

‘The BBC make some unusual choices lately. I cherished all my years there and have completely no axe to grind.

‘The Beeb has been a part of my life. However I used to be shocked after I examine this in Monday’s Every day Mail.

‘What actually winds me up is that any individual from the BBC sports activities division has really agreed to this. They’ve thought it’s a good suggestion. How can anybody even suppose that?’

Des Lynam (pictured at Wimbledon final month) has described the BBC’s choice as ‘low cost’