{"id":296168,"date":"2023-11-25T11:24:46","date_gmt":"2023-11-25T11:24:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/?p=296168"},"modified":"2023-11-25T11:24:46","modified_gmt":"2023-11-25T11:24:46","slug":"simon-thomas-forced-to-miss-skys-soccer-saturday-as-replacement-is-confirmed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/soccer\/simon-thomas-forced-to-miss-skys-soccer-saturday-as-replacement-is-confirmed\/","title":{"rendered":"Simon Thomas forced to miss Sky’s Soccer Saturday as replacement is confirmed"},"content":{"rendered":"
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    Simon Thomas will not be hosting Soccer Saturday on November 25, with the TV star announcing he will be missing the show.<\/p>\n

    Thomas posted on X: "Sadly no #soccersaturday for me today – #Covid has hit the Thomas household. @carolinebarker is in the hot seat today. Go well CB – you\u2019ll be brilliant. See you next week!" Thomas took over from long-term host Jeff Stelling over the summer.<\/p>\n

    The former Blue Peter presenter was quick to address the large boots he had to fill when opening his first episode at the start of the season. He said: "Before I go any further, I just want to say this. Over the last few weeks, one or two people have said 'you've got some rather large boots to fill'.<\/p>\n

    READ MORE: Jurgen Klopp leaves Sky reporter squirming for air as he puts him in headlock<\/b><\/p>\n

    READ MORE: Chris Kamara 'nearly killed Jeff Stelling' after almost driving off 400ft cliff<\/b><\/p>\n

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    "I have not brought the boots today, I've brought my own shoes, a nice comfortable pair of size 10 leather brown shoes.<\/p>\n

    "But I want to say this – it is an absolute honour to take on the role of hosting this quite brilliant show and if I can do half the job that the legend Jeff Stelling did over the last 25 years, I will have done something right. <\/p>\n

    What have you made of the new look Soccer Saturday? Let us know in the comments section<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    "Enjoy Jeff, your first Saturday off at the start of a new season for a long, long time. And from me personally, thank you."<\/p>\n

    Caroline Barker will take the reigns this weekend in the absence of Thomas.<\/p>\n

    Barker was almost handed the Soccer Saturday gig, before Sky opted for Thomas, with the network impressed by her coverage of netball, and she has also hosted 5 Live\u2019s coverage of the Women\u2019s World Cup and Match of the Day.<\/p>\n