Des Lynam is a big fan of his successor at the helm on BBC matchdays. He has just one reservation.

Gary Lineker these days plays the lead role for the BBC while Des sits at home and watches.

The Brighton broadcasting legend said: “Lineker is doing a fantastic job.

“When he started doing it there were doubts about whether he would make it.

“He got lucky in one way in particular becasue I left to go to ITV!

“I don’t think he’d have got the job straight away if I hadn’t done that.

“The door was open for him and he leapt through it with the alacrity with which he took his goals.

“He is improving and improving. He is first class. He makes a quip, be asks sensible questions.

“I just think he should offer an opinion because he is equipped to do so.

“I hear him asking someone about a striker’s role when there is no one better to speak about that than Gary Lineker himself.”

Lynam put Lineker on the spot at the end of the 1986 finals.

The newly crowned Golden Boot winner, just back from Mexico, was on a panel with Terry Venables, the manager who was set to sign him for Barcelona from Everton.

The Argus:

Des pushed and probed trying to get the story while ex-Southampton boss Lawrie McMenemy sat between them with a disapproving glare.

In the end, McMenemy said: “I think you’re all out of order. He’s under contract. You should be asking (Everton manager) Howard Kendall.”

Des said: “I vaguely remember at the time Lawrie saying something vaguely critical.

“I didn’t get back on it at the time because the producer was being very noisy in my earpiece.

“I didn’t hear what Lawrie said and it looked as though I had bottled it.”

It was an exclusive which got away but Lineker’s evasive response to his questions spoke volumes.