"Three middle-aged white guys get the sack.."

[J R Hartley]

Out of the people let go only Le Tissier played premier league football.

Charlie Nicholas is 58 and Phil Thompson is 66 neither are middle aged.

Phil Thompson is one of the most decorated players in English football. He captained a very successful Liverpool team and also captained England.

It was probably the right time to move on, as others have said he was being phased out last year, but he was certainly more qualified than most to be a pundit regardless of the fact there was a change to the name of the top division.

He had a bit of character, could laugh at himself, didn’t mind being taken the piss of and helped give the show that mates in a pub feel they were clearly going for. He’s left big shoes to fill NQAT.