Gold Coast radio: Adrian ‘AJ’ Johnson leaves Gold 92.5 FM, but co-hosts not even informed

A PROMINENT Gold Coast radio station has announced one of its key hosts will not return to airwaves in 2019, but the media were informed before their co-hosts were.

AJ (right) will be leaving the Gold Fm Breakfast Team, but sources say his co-hosts Spida and Bridge were not informed. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

A PROMINENT radio presenter will be leaving the show as of next year, but the station alerted the media before they alerted his co-hosts.

Adrian “AJ” Johnson from Gold 92.5 today announced he would not be returning to the show alongside co-hosts Peter ‘Spida’ Everitt and Bridget ‘Bridge’ Daly.

Southern Cross Austereo issued a media statement just after midday today announcing that AJ had decided “he won’t be returning to the station next year.”

However sources close to the station say his co-hosts were completely unaware of this decision or announcement.

The Gold Fm Breakfast Team Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

AJ only joined the breakfast radio team in September last year, with the task of catapulting the trio back into the top ratings spot.

At the time he told News Corp “This (task) is coming from my old program director head but I’m going to crush, kill and destroy”.

He replaced beloved radio veteran Richard Fowler, who had been on air for 22 years, which caused the show to fall behind in the ratings.

Southern Cross Austereo’s statement says Johnson informed the station today, meaning the release was sent only hours after his decision was handed in.

“AJ has informed us today that he has chosen to part ways with Gold 92.5. It’s really disappointing that he won’t be with us for 2019 and into the future,” Southern Cross Austereo’s Head of Regional Content, Mickey Maher, said.

Gold 92.5 is said to return after the break on January 16 with only Bridge and Spida.

There is no word of searching for a replacement.