Sky Sports News has parted company with the long-serving presenter Natalie Sawyer.

Sawyer, who along with Jim White, above, had been promoted as the face of the channel’s transfer deadline day coverage, has left the company after 18 years.

The 38-year-old is understood to have been told this month that her contract would not be renewed and she finished her final presenting shift at 5pm yesterday, during which there was no mention of her impending departure.

Sawyer also presented live football coverage for Sky GETTY IMAGES

The Times has been told that Sky Sports executives instructed other presenters not to mention Sawyer’s departure on air despite her high-profile, popularity and long service, a directive at odds with their previous treatment of star presenters.

In 2011, Georgie Thompson was presented with a bouquet of flowers live