Clive Tyldesley believes his partnership with Ally McCoist may be over (Image: GETTY)
Clive Tyldesley has admitted that his popular commentary partnership with Ally McCoist may be over following ITV's decision to relieve him of his duties. Tyldesley covered his final game for ITV last weekend as Germany beat Denmark to reach the quarter-finals of Euro 2024.
The 69-year-old has now officially left the broadcaster after 28 years, but is finding it 'hard to accept' that he is no longer considered as a valuable asset by them.
Speaking to Martin O'Neill on the Football Authorities podcast, he said: "I assume that ITV do research these things and maybe they are getting feedback from focus groups that, you know, coming up to 70, [people have] heard enough of me.
"I'm nine years younger than Martin Tyler, and he was still going strong up until 18 months ago as Sky's leading commentator. I hope that my standards are high enough for me to be the first person to notice when they're slipping.
The veteran commentator has been axed by ITV after 28 years on their books (Image: GETTY)
"I still listen back to my work and review it, hopefully as harshly as anybody else. I try to refresh, reset, recalibrate every game that I do. I’m continually trying to reconnect with an audience that is constantly changing.
"Changing in terms of its makeup, changing in the way that it consumes its management, trying to connect with all ages, all genders, all levels of football interest and knowledge.
"It's not an important job. We only shout names out, but I take it bloody seriously because it's the only job I ever wanted to do. I find it difficult when I can still see the players and still shout the names out.
"I've still got a voice and I've still got eyes. [It's hard] to accept that my standards have fallen to the degree that I'm being relegated in the way that I am."
Tyldesley went on to admit that he may never share a commentary box with McCoist again, pointing out the fact they have barely worked together over the last two years.
"I would say that since the last World Cup in Qatar, between the two international tournaments, we have done four, maybe five commentaries together," he said.
"So if there is an affection for the way we work together, it doesn’t seem to be reflected amongst sports editors because we very rarely are put together. It might be the last time we ever work together.
"How about that? Ally McCoist and Clive Tyldesley may not appear as a commentary partnership ever again.
"I am more than disappointed that they have come to the conclusion that they've now got not just one, but other commentators that they think are better than I. If I never commented on another football match, I've been a lucky boy. It's not a tragedy."
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