Related items

• Gary Lineker congratulates Everton but ‘gutted’ as Leicester suffer relegation

  Gary Lineker has congratulated Everton after his former club survived in the Premier League at the expense of his boyhood team Leicester.

  The two clubs had been in jeopardy heading into the final round of fixtures on Sunday but ultimately Everton’s 1-0 victory over Bournemouth ensured they avoided the drop.

  At one stage it looked as though it could be the Foxes who stayed up as they took an early lead against West Ham but their eventual 2-1 win was rendered academic by Everton’s result.

  The Toffees ended the season in 17th place, two points ahead of Leicester, while Leeds were also relegated after a 4-1 loss to Tottenham.

  Former England striker Lineker, who began his career at Leicester before spending a season at Everton in the mid-1980s, tweeted: “Absolutely gutted, but glad it’s Everton. Have a lot of love for that great football club. Congratulations.”

  Leicester’s relegation comes seven years after they were crowned Premier League champions and just two years after they won the FA Cup.

  Lineker added: “A word on Leicester. If eight years ago, you’d have given me the option of winning the Premier League and the FA Cup and then get relegated, I’d have snapped your hand off. Also I’d have told you not to be so utterly ridiculous.”

  It has been a dismal season for Leicester and TV pundit Roy Keane was not sure how quickly they could recover.

  The former Manchester United midfielder said on Sky Sports: “They didn’t seem to get any momentum into the season from a bad start. It’s no surprise to see them where they are.

  “Clubs can bounce back but it isn’t easy. I think it is a rebuilding job at Leicester.”

  Leeds’ three-year stint in the Premier League ended in a whimper as they were thrashed by Spurs at Elland Road.

  The club had brought in Sam Allardyce in a last-ditch attempt to escape relegation with four games remaining but the former England boss was unable to engineer a recovery.

  The team collected just one point from Allardyce’s games and finished in 19th position, five points behind Everton.

  Keane was scathing of their performances.

  He said: “They’ve looked weak over the last month or two, even with Sam coming in.

  “They were fighting for their lives today and conceded four goals at home. That’s nowhere near good enough.

  “Sam obviously came in too late. Defensively they look so weak. Some of the goals – it’s almost pub team defending.

  “Not strong enough mentally, that desire – nowhere near good enough.”

  Chelsea, meanwhile, aimed a parting shot at Leeds on social media.

  Rivalry between those two clubs dates back to some hard-fought clashes in the 1960s and 70s.

  In August, Leeds trolled Chelsea on Twitter during their 3-0 victory over the London club.

  In that game, Chelsea tweeted the Blues were “starting to assert ourselves” just moments before Leeds opened the scoring and quickly followed with a second goal.

  “Life comes at you fast!” Leeds tweeted in reply.

  Now, nine months later, Chelsea have got their own back.

  “It certainly does,” they tweeted.

• Sir Elton John sends well-wishes as Jeff Stelling signs off from Soccer Saturday

  Jeff Stelling revealed singer Sir Elton John was among his well-wishers this week as the presenter signed off from the “best job that anybody could possibly have wished for” at Soccer Saturday.

  Stelling announced last month his intention to stand down as anchor of the Sky Sports programme after almost 30 years and earmarked the final day of the Premier League season on Sunday as his last show.

  In the days leading up to his swansong, Stelling divulged he had messages of support from the likes of Gordon Strachan and Neil Warnock, plus a phone call from John, former chairman and director of Watford.

  Stelling, an unapologetic Hartlepool fan who frequently celebrated their goals on Soccer Saturday, said: “Somebody asked me the other day if I’d ever been starstruck and yeah, I was starstruck when Elton John rang me at home to say ‘Thank you very much for all you’ve done’.

  “He said ‘Every week I watch the show and every week you tell me Watford are losing and every week you tell me Hartlepool are losing so I feel like we’re kindred spirits’. There’s something in that, isn’t there?”

  After touching tributes from colleagues past and present in a video montage, Stelling was given a standing ovation by the punditry panel of Paul Merson, Clinton Morrison, Kris Boyd and Michael Dawson.

  Stelling, who had planned to quit last year before reversing that decision, briefly hid his emotions with a mask of himself and quipped: “This is tricky because I’ve changed my mind – just kidding.

  “I haven’t changed my mind this time.”

  Stelling was clearly moved by the highlights package Sky televised in the final minutes of the show after Everton retained their top-flight status and confirmed the relegations of Leeds and Leicester.

  Merson, Alan Mullery, Frank McLintock, Clive Allen, Charlie Nicholas, Phil Thompson and Matt Le Tissier passed on their congratulations, as did Chris Kamara, who in a nod to the catchphrase that has become synonymous with the pair and the show, said: “You are unbelievable, Jeff!”

  Stelling looked back fondly on his 30-plus years with Sky, in which he not only covered football but live snooker, darts, greyhound racing, pool and thanked everyone with whom he had worked.

  In his farewell monologue, he added: “It’s been the best job that anybody could possibly have wished for. My wife takes great pleasure in saying ‘You are the luckiest man ever to take a breath’ and you know what? I don’t tell her this often but she’s right.

  “The principle success of Soccer Saturday is you lot at home, who have given us unswerving support – both for the programme and for me personally.

  “So that’s it. Soccer Saturday will be back next season. I’ll be watching – when Hartlepool are not playing. From me, goodbye.”

• Espanyol suffer LaLiga relegation after dramatic Valencia draw

  Espanyol were relegated from LaLiga after a dramatic draw with fellow strugglers Valencia on Sunday.

  Luis Garcia's side will not be playing top-flight football next term after Samuel Lino's 93rd-minute goal snatched a 2-2 draw for Valencia, sending Espanyol down.

  The White and Blues will join already relegated Elche in dropping down to the Segunda Division, while a host of other teams, including Real Valladolid, Celta Vigo, Almeria and Valencia, remain in danger.

  Valladolid are in 18th place with one game remaining, one point behind Celta and Almeria, and two points adrift of Valencia, Getafe and Cadiz in a congested battle for survival.