(London): In the latest in a long line of cost cutting measures has seen ITV secretly replace David Pleat with a low cost computer simulation, a ploy undetected until being discovered by an intrepid AJNN reporter.

It can now be revealed that for the last three live matches on ITV the summarising, believed by viewers to be ex-manager Pleat, was actually done by the Clichetron 4000, a new artificial intelligence machine designed to provide expert cliches at opportune moments.

With almost 20 summarising phrases such as "they need to score", "one goal is never enough" and "they're passing the ball around" the machine is indistinguishable from Pleat in active service.

ITV have been so pleased with the machine they've already pre-ordered the new "post match 1.4" module, to be released later in the year, to replace Andy Townsend.

The add-on will have a collection of excuses, using ITV's touch screen technology, for almost every England failure.

There are also high hopes for the 1.5 module, planned for the beginning of next year, which may finally be able to answer the question "Ashley Cole, why?"