The former Premier League referee Mike Dean will be a pundit on Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday live results show after quitting as a Var last week, the broadcaster has announced.
Telegraph Sport revealed on Saturday that the 55-year-old was ending a run as an official in English professional football that goes back 28 years. Having quit as an on-field referee last summer he struggled last season as a full-time Var – his last match appointment under Howard Webb, head of the referees’ organization PGMOL [Professional Game Match Officials]was in February.
The new host of Soccer Saturday, replacing longstanding favorite Jeff Stelling, will be presenter Simon Thomas who has had a long association with Sky Sports. In the carousel of high-profile media appointments in television and radio, Stelling is tipped to replace Laura Woods as the breakfast show host at Talk Sport radio. Meanwhile Woods is moving to the rebranded BT Sport – now TNT Sport under new ownership – as the anchor for Champions League coverage.
Of his new job, Dean said: “It feels a bit surreal to be a part of such a well-loved show, but I can’t wait to join the team. With all the technology available in today’s game, I think it’s crucial that fans understand why decisions have been made, even if they don’t agree with them.”
While Dean has a strong personality on the pitch, often relying upon strength of personality rather than an all-encompassing knowledge of the laws of the game, it will be intriguing to see how he fares in the television studio. Under Webb’s predecessor at PGMOL, Mike Riley, there was little or no access to officials for the media. Dean rarely ever gave an interview in his 22 years as a Premier League referee.
A spokesperson for Sky Sports said that Dean would “offer in-depth analysis and insight on the biggest decisions made up and down the country every Saturday.”
Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.