BBC CHIEF ' TRIED TO LURE BACK LYNAM'

BBC boss Greg Dyke has twice tried to lure back Des Lynam from ITV despite his attack on the presenter, it was claimed last night.

Dyke, director-general of the BBC, said Lynam looked "tired" as host of ITV's Saturday night football show, The Premiership, in a speech to the Broadcasting Press Guild

But friends said Lynam, 58, was not bothered and "amused" by the attack as only last month Dyke approached him at a function to offer him his old job on Match Of The Day.

It was claimed Dyke told Lynam he could look into "buying him out" of his contract with ITV. "Des thinks Greg was making mischief as he is fed up Des won't return to the BBC," a source said.

It was claimed that Dyke first asked Lynam to think again in the summer of 2000 soon after he announced his plan to defect to ITV.

Last night a BBC spokesman denied any approach had been made. "We have a new generation of talent." he said.

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