Sky Sports SACK Matt Le Tissier, Charlie Nicholas and Phil Thompson from Soccer Saturday

MATT LE TISSIER has been kicked off Sky Sports along with Soccer Saturday pals Charlie Nicholas and Phil Thompson.

The three long-serving football experts were given the boot on Tuesday in a remarkable move by the TV company who have been slashing staff numbers.

The three long-serving football experts were given the boot on Tuesday in a remarkable move by the TV company who have been slashing staff numbers

Former Southampton superstar and England ace Le Tissier, 51, was a hugely popular member of Jeff Stelling’s Saturday team.

And “Le God” formed a brilliant relationship with Liverpool’s former captain and assistant manager Thommo, 66, and ex-Celtic and Arsenal star Nicholas, 58.

The three men clocked close to 50 years service between them with Sky and will be greatly missed by the millions of armchair football fans who tuned into the long-running “Gillett Soccer Saturday” show.

Midfield magician Le Tissier spent all his professional career with the Saints and it was one of football’s biggest mysteries why he only won eight England caps.

Matt Le Tissier was recently slated for his controversial views on coronavirus

Former Arsenal star Charlie Nicholas has been given his marching orders

Former Reds skipper and England star Thompson won 16 major titles with his beloved Liverpool including seven First Division titles, three European Cup, one FA Cup and two League Cup successes.

In 2001 Thommo was praised by his fellow football pundit Tony Cottee for saving his life when the Liverpool hero paid for a doctor to examine his colleague before he suffered a brain haemorrhage.

Scotland striker Nicholas secured two Premier League honours and one League Cup for Glasgow giants Celtic and one League Cup with the Gunners.

Le Tissier had it written into his Sky contract that he didn’t have to wear a tie for the weekend and mid-week television shows.

Phil Thompson played for Liverpool and Sheffield United during his career

He recently caused a stir on social media for wearing a “Black Lives Matter” badge on the programme after suggesting to his half-a-million Twitter followers that he was against the idea.

Le Tissier also declared he was taking a break from social media earlier this month when he was attacked by on-line trolls calling for him to be sacked by Sky.

The trolls turned on the football pundit for criticising the government’s handling of the Covid-19 crisis.

Family man Le Tissier lashed out at his online critics for trying to “ruin my life” and get me “sacked” before taking a break from Twitter.

He wrote at the time: “You trolls and bots out there who try to belittle me with your snide remarks trying to make out I’m some uncaring individual who has no empathy.

“You can’t be further from the truth and I feel incredibly sorry for you that there is so little joy in your life, you resort to this.”