Seven tight-lipped on Mel McLaughlin’s new sports role

SHE’S finished at Ten and ready to start work at Seven, but the Olympics wasn’t the only sweetener for the move.

** FOR WEEKEND USE IN MELB ONLY, EMBARGOED UNTIL LATE FEB 2016 ** Mel McLaughlin - Channel 10 Sports Reporter. Picture Craig Greenhill

WHAT is Mel McLaughlin’s secret new role with Seven?

The popular sports presenter was lured to the network from Channel Ten to join Seven’s coverage of the 2016 Olympics in August.

But it’s believed the Olympics gig wasn’t the only sweetener for the move.

Industry sources tip McLaughlin will also take up sports news presenting duties at Sydney’s Seven News night desk for either its weekend or weekday bulletins, roles currently filled by Ryan Phelan and Jim Wilson respectively.

McLaughlin has finished work at Channel Ten and is apparently due to start her new job at Seven within a fortnight, but Seven won’t be drawn on what she will be doing day to day.

McLaughlin, 36, signed with Seven in February after a three-year stint with Ten, covering the Big Bash League as well as the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games and 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Before Ten, McLaughlin worked for Fox Sports, hosting a number of soccer shows, and was also a regular on Fox Sports News.

She became the reluctant centre of attention January, when West Indian cricketer Chris Gayle took a sideline Big Bash interview into inappropriate territory, commenting on her eyes and asking her out for a drink as she tried to ask him about his cricketing performance.

Gayle was fined $10,000 and forced to publicly apologise after the comments’ which he followed up on air with the words “don’t blush baby’’.

In a later interview with Channel Ten’s The Project, McLaughlin said she was surprised by Gayle’s comments but just wanted to “move on”.

“I love my job and I’d just rather be talking about that,” she said.

Channel Seven and Mel McLaughlin have been contacted for comment.

Originally published as Seven tight-lipped on Mel McLaughlin’s new sports role