Match of the Day host Gary Lineker could front his final show soon(Image: Neil Mockford/GC Images)

Gary Lineker's two-word response after Match of the Day bombshell as BBC stance emerges

Match of the Day presenter and England great Gary Lineker is rumoured to be on the verge of leaving after an email was 'leaked' earlier this week

by · football.london

Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker reportedly told a journalist to 'go away' outside his home when asked for his response to reports he could be leaving the Premier League highlights show.

The Daily Mail reported on Thursday afternoon that they had received an email purported to be from the BBC which had drafted up Lineker's exit after tonight's broadcast of Match of the Day. When pushed for a comment on the email, the organisation insisted that the former Tottenham Hotspur and Barcelona striker remained under contract with the BBC until the end of the season.

When approached by the newspaper, Lineker's representatives declined to comment as did the 63-year-old who reportedly told a journalist outside his home that 'I won't talk to you, go away' when they doorstepped him for a response, reports the Mirror. According to The Times, the BBC entered 'witch hunt mode' following the story breaking in the Daily Mail.

The tax-payer-funded organisation reportedly entered a 'flat spin' when news of the email leak entered the public space but refused to denounce it as being fake. Lineker is one of the highest-paid on-air talents at the BBC and has a salary of £1.35m per year hosting Match of the Day weekly as well as spearheading coverage of live FA Cup matches and major international tournaments.

According to the Daily Mail, sources inside the BBC were shocked by the news that Lineker could be leaving so soon in the football calendar. Many cited Ian Wright's departure last season which was handled with more gravitas than a short-notice exit.

Lineker is likely to be in the presenter's seat tonight as Match of the Day shows highlights of the seven Premier League matches including; Arsenal hosting Southampton, Liverpool travelling to Crystal Palace and Manchester City welcoming Fulham.