They think it's all over for Motty

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Motson, 62 and famous for his sheepskin coats, commentated on yesterday's semi-final between West Bromwich Albion and Portsmouth at Wembley and BBC sources say he is a certainty for next month's final.

But with the FA Cup television rights moving to Setanta and ITV next season in a deal running until 2012, Motson is unlikely to call another final for viewers after a career in which he has been synonymous with Cup Final day since covering his first in 1977, when Manchester United beat Liverpool 2-1.

Motson must decide whether to stay with the BBC after a 37-year career. The corporation have lost the rights to almost all live football but want Motson to sign a new deal with them for next season to commentate on Radio Five Live and work on the highlights show, Match of the Day.

Although the BBC holds rights to European Championships and the World Cup until 2014, they have lost the FA Cup and England home games and declined to bid for the Champions League.

Last year BBC bosses blocked an approach for Motson to work with Setanta Sports when the satellite broadcaster launched their Premier League football coverage at the start of this season.

Having been rebuffed, Setanta's head of sport Trevor East is unlikely to make a new approach for Motson, preferring to stick with his established commentary team, led by Ian Crocker and Jon Champion.

ITV would be highly unlikely to unseat their award-winning lead commentator Clive Tyldesley so, unless a last-minute job-share with Setanta can be agreed, TV viewers will soon have heard the last of Motty at the Cup Final.

Motson has done more to define the images of the famous competition than anyone in the modern era. He was a rookie Match of the Day commentator when he covered non- League Hereford's famous replay win over top-flight Newcastle in 1972, having joined the corporation just three months before.