John 'Fenners' Fendley admits viewers wanted 'old Soccer AM' back as it's axed after 30 years

Soccer AM presenter John 'Fenners' Fendley once admitted he knew that viewers wanted the 'old Soccer AM' back.

Earlier today (22 March), Sky announced that the long-running Saturday morning football show would be axed after nearly 30 years on our screens.

The show has been a real fan favourite over the years, with a number of combinations of hosts presenting it since 1995.

However, Soccer AM will come to a conclusion at the end of this current football season, with just a few episodes remaining.

Sky

Announcing the news, Sky said: “Soccer AM has played an important role in our coverage of football for the past three decades, and we continually adapt to the evolving needs of our customers.

"We now go into a period of consultation to discuss the proposed changes with our people.

"We are unable to provide more detail while these consultations are underway.”

The most recent presenters to sit in the Soccer AM hot seat were John Fendley and ex-footballer Jimmy Bullard, who are said to be 'fuming' at the news.

Though there have been many presenters over the year, such as the iconic Tim Lovejoy and Helen Chamberlain.

And it is Fenners who has been open in the past about fans' cries for Soccer AM to return to its old format, which made it so successful in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Sky

The presenter was interviewed by Paninaro magazine, where he opened up about his apprehensions hosting the show.

"I used to be so hung up on what people thought about me doing Soccer AM," he said.

"Everyone always harks back to the ‘good old days’, but the world is changing.

"When I look back, some of things we did were out of order. I would think twice now.

"Attitudes have changed a lot in such a short space of time and I have to say for the better."

Fenners joined Soccer AM as a main presenter in 2015, following an earlier stint as a producer on the show.

So what exactly has changed from the Soccer AM of ten plus years ago to today? Well, one certainly now outdated segment that appeared on the show for many years was Soccerettes.

Sky

The segment saw a young woman modelling a football shirt while being asked questions by the male presenter like 'do you have a boyfriend'? The segment was scrapped in 2015.

But a very popular segment that Soccer AM did each year until it was surprisingly scrapped was the dance off.

Taking place in January each year, members of the show's cast battled it out on the dance floor for the coveted dance off champion crown.

And let's not forget, Soccer AM was the birthplace of challenges such as the crossbar challenge, which is still played across parks in the UK today.

The good old days, eh.