Get the FREE Mirror Football newsletter by email with the day's key headlines and transfer news Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

The EFL are so unhappy at Channel 5’s decision to hire Colin Murray as host of their Saturday night highlights show that they have written to their clubs telling them they did not endorse it.

Murray will replace popular pair Lynsey Hipgrave and George Riley, who were told by the broadcaster a fortnight ago that break clauses in their contracts were being activated.

That decision has paved the way for Channel 5 to rehire Murray, who anchored their Thursday night UEFA Cup coverage between 2006 and 2010.

The fact that they were not consulted over the switch or the decision to hire Murray itself has, however, angered top brass at the EFL.

(Image: channel 5) (Image: REUTERS)

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

They were happy with the job Hipgrave and Riley did presenting Football on 5 last season, and were only told they wouldn’t be back for the new campaign on the same day as the presenters.

That prompted the EFL to send a letter to all of their clubs on Thursday in which it was made clear that the decision had been taken without them.

The deals Hipgrave and Riley had with Channel 5 each contained a clause stating that their contracts could be pulled in a six-week window at the end of the season.

(Image: Daily Mirror)

And show bosses told the devastated pair two days before the end of that period that they would not be coming back for the new campaign.

Instead, Liverpool fan Murray, who quit talkSPORT last July after News Corp bought the station, claiming the takeover had made his position “untenable”, will now present the show.