Radio Sport's top draw leaves for rival station

By AINSLEY THOMSON

Radio Sport breakfast host Martin Devlin is leaving for a rival network.

This morning's programme will be Devlin's last on the show he has presented since it began in 1998.

A restraint-of-trade clause in his Radio Sport contract with station owner the Radio Network means Devlin cannot go on air elsewhere until April.

CanWest MediaWorks confirmed that Devlin had joined, but would not say what his role would be.

However, the Herald understands he will be the breakfast host at Radio Pacific, where he will go head to head against Paul Holmes on Newstalk ZB.

It is believed Radio Pacific will be relaunched next year in an attempt to attract younger listeners and the hiring of Devlin is part of the new image.

When the Herald asked Devlin where he was going he said: "I'm going to Radio - [pause] - a brand new breakfast opportunity."

His new job would not just concentrate on sports but would be "all encompassing".

Radio Sport had been his dream job, he said, and he never thought he would leave.

"I was completely unprepared for another opportunity as exciting as the one I'm being offered coming my way. But it did."

Devlin said he was motivated to keep challenging himself and to improve.

"I didn't know whether or not I still had that fire, but obviously I do. I started The Edge in Hamilton in 1994, I started Channel Z in Wellington in 1996, Radio Sport here in Auckland in 1998. I honestly didn't think the chance would come again. It was something that I couldn't refuse."

Sources have told the Herald that Devlin is ambitious and wants to host a current affairs type show along the lines of Paul Holmes'.

It is understood he has been considering for the past few months what options would allow him to broaden his skills.

The Radio Network's general manager of talk programming, Bill Francis, said the station had negotiated with Devlin to keep him, but he decided to move.

Devlin said Radio Sport had offered to increase his salary.

"But it is not about that. The motivation really was that the opportunity was too good. It would be the only reason that I would go. It is a bizarre thing to leave a job you love, with people you really enjoy working with. Probably idiotic, but hopefully it won't be."

A possible contender to replace Devlin at Radio Sport is TV One sports presenter Tony Veitch.

Mr Francis said it was too early for him to comment on who the replacement would be.

"We have a lot of talented prospects to talk to. We have already had some discussions and we expect we will be able to fill that role with a top person."

Devlin said he would miss his listeners at Radio Sport, but said he was setting up something new "and hopefully people will come along and play with that".