ITV do not have the rights to live Champions League games next season

Pougatch will present Chelsea's clash with Paris Saint-Germain in February

He is replaced by Mark Pougatch, who mainly works for BBC Radio 5 Live

ITV will not comment on the reasons for Adrian Chiles' departure

Mark Pougatch is to replace Adrian Chiles at ITV's lead football host with immediate effect.

Pougatch will present ITV's next live match which is the Chelsea vs Paris Saint-Germain Champions League game next month.

ITV will not comment on the reasons for Chiles' departure.

Adrian Chiles, who has been replaced as ITV's lead football host, pictured in west London on Friday

Chiles appeared in good spirits despite the news, as he walked near his home in west London

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Chiles was the subject of a Facebook campaign to have him removed from ITV's football coverage after last year's World Cup, and last summer it was announced he was being given a much bigger role on BBC Radio 5 Live as a presenter.

The decision follows ITV choosing not to renew their current second presenter Matt Smith's contract at the end of the season, while pundit Andy Townsend recently left by mutual consent.

ITV also lost Roy Keane as a pundit when he decided to focus on his coaching duties prior to the start of the World Cup.

It's understood that Chiles was told this week that ITV wanted to terminate his one-year contract extension that was signed shortly before the World Cup last year.

It was a one-year deal worth around £500,000 just to host football. He had had to take a £1million cut in salary at that time as he was no longer hosting the doomed Daybreak breakfast show.

Thankyou for all the kind messages. Delighted to be joining @ITVSport & looking forward to Paris & meeting up with @LeeDixon2 & the team 1/2 — Mark Pougatch (@markpougatch) January 23, 2015

2/2 Also very pleased be able to carry on a 20 year happy association with @bbc5live & will be at St Andrews tomorrow for the FA Cup 4th Rnd — Mark Pougatch (@markpougatch) January 23, 2015

Chiles has been replaced by Pougatch as ITV's lead football host with immediate effect

Chiles and pundits Lee Dixon, Ian Wright and Glenn Hoddle (L-R) get soaked by a spinkler in Switzerland

Chiles (left) has been replaced by Mark Pougatch (right), pictured working for BBC Radio 5 Live

Former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane (centre) left ITV prior to last summer's World Cup in Brazil

Chiles presented ITV's Champions League coverage but the channel will not show live games next season

The fact ITV will make no comment about Chiles' shock departure points to a likely legal battle over the terms of his pay-off.

ITV, who employed Chiles on hugely extravagant terms, finally came to the conclusion that he wasn't the football presenter they wanted going forward.

Pougatch will continue to work for 5 Live but will cut down his football commitments to ensure there is no conflict with his new role on ITV.

He ironically was in competition with Chiles for the anchor role when BBC first launched Match of the Day 2.

After being confirmed as ITV's new lead presenter, Pougatch said in a statement: 'I am absolutely delighted to be joining ITV and to be given this great opportunity.

Pougatch (left), pictured presenting boxing for Channel 5, will take over from Chiles immediately

Chiles sports shorts and flip flops while presenting ITV's live World Cup coverage in Brazil last summer

Chiles speaks with Hull City boss Steve Bruce before the FA Cup final at Wembley last year

Pundit and co-commentator Andy Townsend (right) left ITV by mutual consent earlier this month

Blimey! @itvfootball have been busy in the transfer window. Wish @markpougatch all the very best. — Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) January 23, 2015

'I'm looking forward to working with ITV's talented pool of commentators and pundits on some of the very best football there is.'

ITV Director of Sport, Niall Sloane, said: 'Mark is a highly-respected sports journalist and an outstanding broadcaster. We're delighted to welcome Mark to the ITV Sport team.'

Although the reasons for Chiles' departure remain unclear, ITV's reduction in staff may be linked to their dwindling broadcast rights.

Their FA Cup deal ended last season, while they will not show live Champions League or Europa League games until at least 2019 after losing out on the rights to BT Sport.

They will, however, show highlights from both competitions, while continuing to broadcast all of England's home and away matches, both friendlies and qualifiers.

Chiles chats with England boss Roy Hodgson before the Three Lions' game against Switzerland in September

Pougatch and Chiles both work for BBC Radio 5 Live, with Chiles being handed an expanded role last summer

Chiles poses with ITV's World Cup squad of pundits at Wembley prior to the start of the tournament in Brazil

Chiles, who earned £4.1million last year, was no stranger to controversy during his four-and-a-half year spell at ITV, often drawing criticism from viewers.

In October 2013 there were calls for him to be sacked after he made a potentially offensive remark at the end of England's win against Montenegro.

Chiles said: 'And it’s practically a home game for Poland – 15,000 Poles will be in here, I’m sure.'

And in February of last year he told viewers that had not fallen asleep at half-time in extra-time of Fulham's FA Cup clash with Sheffield United that he would 'send them a fiver' if they wrote in.

The comment led to plenty of activity on social media, with viewers taking to Twitter to demand money from the presenter.