Sky football presenter Simon Thomas, and Sky Sports, have confirmed that he will leave at the end of the season, just six months after he tragically lost his wife in December 2017.
Thomas's wife Gemma died of Acute Myeloid Leukaemia in December, just three days after she was diagnosed, leaving him to look after eight year old son Ethan.
The 45 year old has since spoken openly, especially on social media, about the struggles he's had without his wife and the impact on his mental health and supporting his son through the ordeal of losing his mother so young.
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In a statement today Thomas revealed that he would leave Sky, where he has presented on Sky Sports News, Football League, EFL Cup and Premier League for the past 13 years, at the end of the season, saying, "It's with a heavy, but peaceful heart that I write these words: I have decided to leave Sky at the end of the season."
Later in his long and emotional post Thomas thanked Sky adding, "The biggest thank you goes to Sky itself for the unswerving support they have given me over the past few months, not just when Gemma fell ill and in the aftermath of her death, but also in the weeks before when I was suffering from anxiety and depression.
"When I first became unwell, not only did they give me the time off to get better; they wanted to understand. Initially, I was fearful of talking to them about mental health. I shouldn't have been. Every step of the way, they supported me, gave me the space to try and get better, and wanted to understand what I was going through - and this has carried on through these hugely painful last five months.
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"They have been quite simply amazing and have also been gracious enough not to just accept the decision I've made, but also to tell me that the door will always be open. The love and care they have shown Ethan and me has been simply incredible, not least by the boss of football, Gary Hughes, and the head of Sky Sports, Barney Francis."
In their own statement Sky Managing director of Sky Sports Francis said, "Simon has suffered an unspeakable loss and we have done everything we can to ease the burden he is carrying. I spoke to Simon this morning and fully support his decision.
"He is part of our family and always will be even now as he searches for his next path.
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"If there is some small positive he can take from this experience it is the courage he has shown in opening up, and for others facing the same challenges I know they will take comfort from his actions and his words."
We add our support for Simon and Ethan and wish them both all the best in the future.
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Football News, Football, Sky Sports
