Sky Sports football presenter Simon Thomas has confirmed he's leaving the broadcaster to spend more time with his son in the wake of his wife's death.
Thomas started the season hosting Sky's Saturday lunchtime Premier League live games, but hasn't been on screen since losing his wife Gemma to acute myloid leukaemia in November.
Writing on his blog A Grief Shared, he said he'd been "wrestling" over a decision on whether to go back to work or not but had decided with a "heavy, but peaceful heart" to leave Sky.
Explaining the decision he said he needed to spend time with his son Ethan and that continuing to host football would take him away for his lad at the weekends.
He also revealed that his wife's death had put things in perspective for him and although he still enjoyed football, it didn't seem to matter as much given what had happened.
"I really hope that in six months or maybe in a year the passion I had for the beautiful game is re-ignited. It might not be, but I hope it does - and Sky have been incredibly kind in saying that the door will always be open for me," he wrote in the blog.
He praised Sky for what he described as their "unswerving support" and thanked his bosses and "the legions of unsung heroes who work behind the scenes on the football, and also to David Jones and Kelly Cates, both of whom have taken on a bigger workload in the months I've not been able to work. Both are class acts and have brilliant in their support of me since Gemma went."
Thomas has been with Sky for 13 years after joining the station's Sky Sports News channel. He later moved to presenting live EFL and League Cup football before landing the Premier League presenting job.
REACTION ON TWITTER
Typically brave, dignified, poignant and incredibly honest my friend. I know you’ll make a huge success of the new chapter. Wishing you all the luck in the world. https://t.co/FLC4NlWP1J— DAVID JONES (@DavidJonesSky) April 27, 2018
Family first...something that is never, ever the wrong call to make. Sports broadcasting is a poorer place without you buddy...❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ https://t.co/qKtiHTRlfN— Jake Humphrey (@mrjakehumphrey) April 27, 2018
Simon Thomas has announced he is to leave Sky Sports at end of football season. https://t.co/wSPh3N4Qwk— Sky Sports (@SkySports) April 27, 2018
Everyone at Sky Sports fully supports Simon's decision and wishes him and his son, Ethan, all the best for the future. pic.twitter.com/6YxvRvX4ef
All the best, @SimonThomasSky.— EFL (@EFL) April 27, 2018
You were fantastic in your coverage of the #EFL, and we’re sure you’ll excel in whatever comes next.
Catch you at a @NorwichCityFC game soon! ⚽️
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