Fans ‘crying, heartbroken and speechless’ as BBC football pundit steps down.. as SunSport columnist replaces him

FANS were left devastated to learn that Garth Crooks is leaving his role picking the team of the week for the BBC.

Crooks, 66, became beloved for his all-out-attack choices that often left his team playing bizarre formations.

PA:Empics SportGarth Crooks will no longer pick the BBC’s team of the week[/caption]

RexTroy Deeney will replace Garth Crooks[/caption]

His teams often saw wingers shoe-horned in as wing-backs and forward players anchoring the midfield – much to the delight and bemusement of fans online.

Reacting to his shock departure as the new season approaches, one fan said this was: “The worst news to wake up to. Crying. Heartbroken. Speechless.”

Another invoked a famous Wayne Rooney tweet by saying: “Garth Crooks’ Team of the Week has passed away. RIP u will live on forever. Cant believe it. I wanna run to u. Really cant believe this.”

A third fan said: “No one really cared about the actual opinions in the BBC Team of the Week, they just wanted to see what insane formation Garth Crooks had cooked up and who he had thrown left wing back despite their actual position being available.”

The former Spurs striker had been the BBC’s go-to man for picking the team of the week for a number of years but he is now being replaced by a SunSport columnist.

Former Watford and Birmingham striker Troy Deeney will now be stepping in to replace Crooks.

Writing for the BBC about his new role, Deeney said: “I’m delighted to tell you that I am taking over from the legend that is Garth Crooks to select BBC Sport’s Premier League Team of the Week every weekend, and it is a great honour to get to fill his shoes.

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“I’ve always had massive respect for Garth for his amazing career in the media after his playing days ended and, as someone who is following in his footsteps now, I’ve always looked up to him.

“I also really admire his approach because, when he has an opinion, he is not afraid to say it and he is always able to back it up – yet he never comes across as someone who is trying to be controversial just to get likes or views on social media or anywhere else.

“Garth genuinely believes in what he says, and the same applies to me, or at least I’d like to think so!”