Sky Sports News has confirmed the departure of seven prominent figures as part of a major redundancy programme.
Long-serving presenter Rob Wotton announced his departure after 30 years in a tearful farewell live on air on Monday evening.
Senior reporter Melissa Reddy is among six colleagues who will also be leaving the broadcaster.
Sky Sports News told staff about the departures in an internal memo sent yesterday, following a consultation period that began at the start of the month.
Sky Sports have axed top presenters including Melissa Reddy and Rob Wotton
Instagram/Sky Sports
The departures represent a significant shake-up at the sports broadcasting channel.
Fellow presenters Teddy Draper and Jasper Taylor are also departing this summer, along with senior reporters Jeremy Langdon and Fadumo Olow.
Draper and Taylor are Sky stalwarts who graduated from production roles to presenting, spending 18 and 11 years respectively at the broadcaster.
Langdon has been at Sky for over 20 years, whilst Reddy was a newer recruit who joined three years ago as a senior football reporter.
During her time with Sky Sports News, the South African journalist covered most of the biggest stories in the Premier League, particularly involving Liverpool and both Manchester clubs.
JUST IN: Two transgender netball players banned after knocking opponent to the ground
Wotton was in tears as he announced his departure from the company he joined in 1998 at the end of a Sky Sports News presenting shift on Monday.
"It's been an absolute pleasure," Wotton said.
"I came here in my 20s and I thought I was only coming for a couple of weeks."
The Football Show will also be scrapped next season
Sky Sports
"And look, they haven't been able to get rid of me. I keep turning up, maybe one day they'll pay me!" he added during his emotional farewell.
Wotton also presented The Football Show, a look back at the weekend's matches and talking points that aired every Monday morning.
The programme has been axed for next season.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
Melissa Reddy joined fairly recently at Sky Sports and covered some of the biggest stories
PA
Sky insists the changes are not primarily a cost-cutting measure, with a spokesperson saying they are aimed at "making us more agile and better equipped to serve audiences".
The departures follow a period of consultation that Sky embarked upon at the start of the month.
The redundancy programme represents a significant restructuring at the sports news channel as it seeks to adapt its operations and staffing model.
Most Read
