Sport on TV: Hodgson's not for turning but old order changes on screen

It was not supposed to end like this. After protracted negotiations, the rumpled veteran decided he could hang on in office no longer and resigned, clearing the way for a younger, more snappily dressed incumbent.

So what can we expect of 'Match of the Day 2' next season now that its erstwhile presenter, Adrian Chiles, has shipped off to ITV in a well-paid huff, to be replaced by Colin Murray?

There were clues to be had watching the Europa League Final (Five, Wednesday), presented by Murray. Expect a more frenetic style as Chiles's chummy, Brummie tones give way to Murray's buzzsaw Northern Irish brogue. But then Murray had plenty to be excited about last week. Apart from his new job, he must have been as delighted as the Fulham faithful that instead of, as expected, the big guns of ITV and Sky hogging the European headlines with their Champions' League coverage, it was the feisty underdogs at Five who had a fairytale final to screen as the Cottagers took on Atlético Madrid.

During the build-up, the great and the good of English management – Fabio Capello, Sir Alex Ferguson and Harry Redknapp plus, er, Sam Allardyce and Ray Wilkins – lined up to pay tribute to Fulham's manager, Roy Hodgson. Proceedings took on a distinctly showbiz air with a poem from Craven Cottage's matchday compère, 'Diddy' David Hamilton (younger readers: he's a 70-something DJ) and continued during the match with glimpses of the floppy-haired thesp Hugh Grant and cheeky chanteuse Lily Allen, Fulham fans both.

The star-spotting continued down on the touchline: Atlético's darkly brooding manager, Quique Flores, bore an uncanny resemblance to Hugh Laurie in 'House', while in the presenting booth Five's analysers, Stan Collymore and Pat Nevin, had both decided on a dark suit, dark tie, 'Reservoir Dogs' look. Add in Murray's Buddy Holly glasses and events seemed to be taking place in a curious lookalike alternative universe.

Sadly, despite Fulham chants of "Are you Brentford in disguise?", the red-and-white-stripe-shirted opposition proved more skilful than the Cottagers' west London neighbours, although it still took them 116 minutes to prevail. A philosophical Hodgson said afterwards: "It's a bitter blow. As far as my future goes, I've always been committed to Fulham and still am."

In contrast, over at ITV the following day, another seasoned veteran decided he could hang on no longer and resigned, clearing the way for a younger, less snappily dressed, incumbent. Steve Rider had expected to anchor the channel's coverage of the World Cup, but the arrival of Chiles changed all that. So alas for Steve, no fairytale ending for him either.