A current professional footballer has questioned the popular The Overlap show, querying if one of the main panel is ignored when on air.
The Overlap is at the forefront of football podcast series – with Gary Neville leading the coverage alongside Jamie Carragher, Roy Keane, Ian Wright and Jill Scott.
However, Manchester United academy graduate and current Leyton Orient defender Demetri Mitchell took to social media to express his concerns that Scott is often overlooked by her colleagues.
Writing on X on Thursday evening, he wrote: The more I watch The Overlap the more Jill Scott gets ignored it’s a tough watch.
‘I don’t know why they sit her on the end of the table whilst the others face each other.
‘Imagine going out for food and sitting like that hard to get a word in edge ways. It just feels like she’s put there to make up the numbers.’
Mitchell’s comments sparked debate with many disagreeing with his take – pointing to her good rapport with everyone else.
One user was very strong in their opinion to Mitchell, writing: ‘Absolute s**** mate. Her and Keane are close. Nev makes her feel welcome and Wrighty loves her.
‘In honesty, she probably sits where she is because Sky are like ‘look, WOMAN’.’
Mitchell replied directly to that post, trying to articulate his point that he felt Scott’s positioning on the show doesn’t enable her to get her views across.
‘I’m not saying she’s bad but anyone on the end of the table whilst the others are sitting opposite each other, especially when you’re not the loudest in the room, is going to struggle to get a word in.
‘It happens a lot if you listen she’ll say something and just get ignored.’
Among those disagree with the 28-year-old, another wrote: ‘Hard disagree. She has good banter with them considering she hasn’t got years of familiarity with them via playing career and you can tell they respect her… even Keano likes her and he’s a hard man to impress.
‘I like how she doesn’t force it and is just natural in terms of when to get involved, and she knows her stuff.’
While Mitchell’s comments have sparked debate, the Leyton Orient man’s focus will now turn to Saturday’s trip to Cardiff City in League One.
Mitchell has made 10 appearances for the east London outfit this season in all competitions with the club 17th in the third tier.
He signed for the club this summer on a two-year deal after joining as a free agent.
Mitchell’s career began at Manchester United, making one appearance in 2017. He then spent two seasons on loan at Hearts before leaving United permanently in 2020.
Since then he has had spells at Blackpool, Hibernian and Exeter – before joining Leyton Orient on June 27.
