Jermaine Jenas has apologised to the “women with whom I was messaging” after he was sacked from the BBC.
“I am ashamed, and I am deeply sorry,” the 41-year-old former footballer said in an interview with the Sun. “I have let myself down, my family, friends and colleagues down, and I owe everyone an apology – especially the women with whom I was messaging. I am so, so sorry.
“I am sorry for what I have put them through. I think it would be fair to say I have a problem. I know I self-sabotage and have a self-destructive streak when it comes to my relationship especially, and I know I need help. And I am getting help.
“I have made a lot of mistakes, and I am asking myself a lot of questions at the moment. I know there’s a lot of work that needs to be done, and it will be hard.”
It comes after the Match of the Day and the One Show presenter was removed by the BBC from the presenting line-ups of both shows.
Jenas, a father of four, is understood to be “speaking to lawyers” after his BBC contract was terminated over allegations he sent unsolicited messages to a female colleague on the One Show.
The Sun, which broke the story, reported that other women have come forward amid an investigation into messages allegedly sent. The BBC declined to comment.
The former England international has been taken off air from both prime-time shows.
Jenas said he fell below the standard of responsibility that “needs to be upheld when you’re a member of the BBC”, but insisted there was no criminality involved.
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“I did nothing illegal – these were inappropriate messages between two consenting adults,” he said.
Jenas has been married to model Ellie Penfold for 13 years.