SKY BLUE THINKING

The TV company earmarked Frank for a Gary Lineker-style role but Lampard is proving he has much to offer as a boss

- BY ANDY DUNN Chief Sports Writer @andydunnmirror

EVEN before he had finished playing, television companies had their eyes on Frank Lampard.

In particular, there were certain executives at Sky Sports who had a masterplan. The Premier League's main broadcasters since day one, Sky have always had a stellar roster of pundits - the best in the business.

But they have not had a Gary Lineker, a blue-chip footballing name who could actually carry a programme, not just appear on it.

Lineker was the face of BBC Sport. There would have been a lot of imponderables and hurdles to get over but there were some at the channel who envisaged Lampard as the face of Sky Sports.

And whenever Lampard has appeared as a pundit, he has come across very well, as you would expect.

But television has always been a way for Lampard to keep his footballing mind ticking over between proper jobs.