Off the Ball Team Leaves Newstalk

Mr. Incognito

http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/other/2013/0304/1224330779064.html

Newstalk Radio’s award-winning Off the Ball team have resigned from the station today with immediate effect.

The show is set to continue this evening but it will be hosted by sports editor and original host Ger Gilroy, who will be joined by remaining members of staff Cian Murtagh, David McIntyre and Joe Molloy.

“Newstalk has confirmed that Eoin McDevitt, Simon Hick, Ken Early, Ciaran Murphy and Mark Horgan have resigned from its sports department,” a statement read this afternoon.


“Ger Gilroy, Newstalk sports editor, who devised Off the Ball in 2002, will be joined by mainstays of the Newstalk sports team - Cian Murtagh, David McIntyre and Joe Molloy - in taking over the running of the show, starting tonight.

“Newstalk would like to thank Eoin, Simon, Ken, Ciaran and Mark for their contributions to the station and wish them luck in their future endeavours.”

A scheduling dispute with management is believed to have led to the resignations, with a team understood to have wanted an earlier slot.


George Hook, who hosts the drivetime show (4.40pm to 7pm) that precedes Off The Ball said on Twitter: “After years of innovative sport, the Off the Ball team have decided to seek fame and fortune elsewhere.”

The news will shock and disappoint loyal listeners who tuned in to the three-hour show on weekdays between 7pm and 10pm (7pm to 9pm on Fridays) for its irreverent but insightful coverage of national and international sport.

Already fans and contributors have taken to social media to express their disbelief. Irish Times Football Correspondent Emmet Malone, tweeted: “Am hoping the lads from Off the Ball have been poached en masse by a rival that writes much bigger cheques. Otherwise, it's terrible news.”

Wow.

Those guys are actually fantastic. Newstalk is utterly stupid. EVERYONE tunes into these chaps. Going to cost them a fortune in the long run.

If the team breaks up I for one want to say THANK YOU guys for all the laughs and brilliant interviews

miker1983

Bad news, they're a great team. Won't be the same show without them.

smash

Mr. Incognito wrote: »

EVERYONE tunes into these chaps.

I don't.

kfallon

Ken Early would give an asprin a headache.....and as for 'Murph', if he was half as funny as he thought he was he'd be twice as funny as he is

Speak Now

Decent show but wont miss Ken Earlys waffle.

mikom

Probably on their way to RTE.
Prepare to be neutered lads.

kfallon

Ken Early and Roy Keane, listen to Ken squirm

http://balls.ie/football/ken-and-roy-a-love-that-would-never-just-never/

I have never heard any of their names, before now.

northernpower

Really disappointed. Living in Cardiff its great to tune into these boys every evening and have that bit of contact with things happening at home in sport.

Not just as a sports show, but the way its delivered as a few lads that enjoy each others company made it great entertainment.

They'll be missed and i'm sure it'll prove to be a massive mistake by newstalk in the long run

Pighead

kfallon wrote: »

Ken Early would give an asprin a headache.....and as for 'Murph', if he was half as funny as he thought he was he'd be twice as funny as he is

Philistine. McDevitt is the best thing about the show but Ken and Murph are very able sidekicks. Ken especially is hilarious.

Grayson

can't stand george hook.

When Neil Armstrong died he said "But really, besides going to the moon what else did he do"

HE WENT TO THE ****ING MOON YOU ****ING TARD.

Btw, I've never heard of those sports guys till now.

krudler

Grayson wrote: »

can't stand george hook.

When Neil Armstrong died he said "But really, besides going to the moon what else did he do"

HE WENT TO THE ****ING MOON YOU ****ING TARD.

Btw, I've never heard of those sports guys till now.

now now, George Hook can pause and rewind live Sky, going to the moon has nothing on that.

Pudsy33

Terrible news, hope the team stick together and pop yo somewhere else

iggy

Listened most nights when I'm on late shift.
Thought it was an excellent sports show..
I for one will miss it.

AnonoBoy

I've a passing interest in sport, nothing more. But these guys were great presenters.

Conmaicne Mara

For a second there, I almost cared.

Lapin

Strawberry Milkshake wrote: »

I have never heard any of their names, before now.

Grayson wrote: »

Btw, I've never heard of those sports guys till now.

I can only pity you both for the empty void that is present in your lives.

You have missed out on the best radio programme to grace the airwaves anywhere over the last decade.

Pighead

Conmaicne Mara wrote: »

For a second there, I almost cared.

Rubbish post. Trying to give off an air of carefree nonchalance but comes across as you trying way too hard.

Lapin

Just listening now and it was said that the lads 'made a pitch to start at 6 instead of 7' but couldn't be accommodated.

Fratton Fred

Maybe Dennis O'Brien is skint?

Newstalk have messed up here.

Conmaicne Mara

Pighead wrote: »

Rubbish post. Trying to give off an air of carefree nonchalance but comes across as you trying way too hard.

It was a class post I'll have you know, how very dare you.

I often listened in to the programme if I was driving, mostly because there was nothing else on. I won't miss those particular presenters, my thoughts would be similar to kfallon (think I got the name right) on the first page.

I'd prefer to listen to Pat Kenny :pac:

AnonoBoy

Conmaicne Mara wrote: »

I'd prefer to listen to Pat Kenny :pac:

That doesn't make sense. Pat Kenny isn't on at that time.

Conmaicne Mara

AnonoBoy wrote: »

That doesn't make sense. Pat Kenny isn't on at that time.

Podcast

stampydmonkey

gutted. many a dark cold night in the car made brighter by the lads. can't believe how idiotic newstalk are to allow this to happen. hopefully they and the show stick together.

ScumLord

Mr. Incognito wrote: »

Newstalk is utterly stupid. EVERYONE tunes into these chaps. Going to cost them a fortune in the long run.

Nobody listens to that show, I know I don't. It's the point in the day I decide I've had enough radio for one day. There's far to much lazy sport shows on the radio to just fill in time. Extend Hooks show out to fill the gap I say!

sfwcork

Not got a clue who they are

Did they take turns presenting telly bingo

Conmaicne Mara

ScumLord wrote: »

Extend Hooks show out to fill the gap I say!

Give Michael Graham his own Newstalk show

Pighead

Conmaicne Mara wrote: »

It was a class post I'll have you know, how very dare you.

I often listened in to the programme if I was driving, mostly because there was nothing else on. I won't miss those particular presenters, my thoughts would be similar to kfallon (think I got the name right) on the first page.

I'd prefer to listen to Pat Kenny :pac:

Pighead has no problem with the fact that you're not a fan of the show. No problem at all. Problem arose when you wandered into the conversation with your horrible 'I almost cared' remark. So snide. So snotty. So bleugh.

Truth be told that comment made Pighead want to smash your face in. The red mist set in big time but thankfully the cool has been restored and the fists are now unclenched.

Cavehill Red

Denis likes to operate on a shoestring, as his other radio interests have learnt. You can bet he took one look at Off the Ball and asked why he needed a dozen sports hacks when two or one would do.

swimming in a sea

I think the guys may have made a mistake (maybe not financially, as they may have a nice contract signed) as it was the format of the show which was so good, it allowed them to speak freely. If they can replace Ken Early who was a love/hate presenter then i think they'll be fine.

Conmaicne Mara

Pighead wrote: »

Pighead has no problem with the fact that you're not a fan of the show. No problem at all. Problem arose when you wandered into the conversation with your horrible 'I almost cared' remark. So snide. So snotty. So bleugh.

Truth be told that comment made Pighead want to smash your face in. The red mist set in big time but thankfully the cool has been restored and the fists are now unclenched.

Gee, thanks

I like to spread a little sunshine everywhere I go :pac:

Doctor Strange

ScumLord wrote: »

Nobody listens to that show, I know I don't. It's the point in the day I decide I've had enough radio for one day. There's far to much lazy sport shows on the radio to just fill in time. Extend Hooks show out to fill the gap I say!

"Lazy sports show"

You're talking bollocks, tbh.

ScumLord

Unforgettable _ Fire wrote: »

"Lazy sports show"

You're talking bollocks, tbh.

I never said it was a lazy sports show I said there's far to many lazy sports shows in general. The weekends are the worst every single radio station doing the same sports reports. It's not even worth turning on the radio. Maybe this was one of the better ones but there still needs to be a cull.

Doctor Strange

ScumLord wrote: »

I never said it was a lazy sports show I said there's far to many lazy sports shows in general. The weekends are the worst every single radio station doing the same sports reports. It's not even worth turning on the radio. Maybe this was one of the better ones but there still needs to be a cull.

Fair enough so

Conmaicne Mara

ScumLord wrote: »

I never said it was a lazy sports show I said there's far to many lazy sports shows in general. The weekends are the worst every single radio station doing the same sports reports. It's not even worth turning on the radio. Maybe this was one of the better ones but there still needs to be a cull.

Ah yes, the weekend afternoons, a time of radio silence in the car

ScumLord

Conmaicne Mara wrote: »

Ah yes, the weekend afternoons, a time of radio silence in the car

Bar the roar of my 1.6L diesel engine.

WhatNowForUs?

BBC

suicide_circus

Best sports show on Irish radio by a very wide margin. Innovative and entertaining. Very likable crew who you can hear by their interactions are a group of mates.
Will be sorely missed. Hope they have been poached by another broadcaster (not the RTe).
Big big mistake by newstalk.

MadYaker

I'm not really into sport that much but these guys were fun to listen to and did some great interviews, I hope they stick together.

Super-Rush

As gutted as i am, i'm gonna have to close this and direct you all to the OTB mega thread.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056765553&page=12

We'll reserve this type of thread for when Joe Duffy leaves to do announcements in Tesco.