Wright quits as BBC pundit

IAN WRIGHT has quit as a football pundit for the BBC, claiming he was forced to become a “comedy jester”.

The ex-England and Arsenal star attacked the Corporation for its stuffy match coverage and said it was out of touch with today’s fans.

He said yesterday: “Times are changing. I don’t know how long young people are going to want to sit down and watch that same old ‘jacket, shirt and tie’ format.

“Fans want people dressed like them. They’ve got no one to relate to on TV and that’s why I’ve said to them I don’t want to do the England games anymore.”

Wright, 44, whose BBC role earned him up to £50,000, said: “I feel like I’m just there as a comedy jester to break the ice with Alan Shearer and Alan Hansen who just do run-of-the-mill things. I can’t do that anymore. People want something different.”

After retiring from football in May 2000, Wright has reinvented himself as a TV presenter with moderate success. However there are some viewers who may not be too sad to see the back of Wrighty’s one-eyed attitude commenting on England internationals and lack of constructive criticism.

The BBC said: “We wish Ian all the best.”