The Footy Show faces turmoil with James Brayshaw locked in robust contract discussions with Channel Nine

THE Footy Show is facing more turmoil with host James Brayshaw locked in robust contract discussions with Channel Nine over his future.

The Footy Show is facing more turmoil with host James Brayshaw locked in robust contract discussions with Channel Nine over his future. Picture: Jason Edwards

THE Footy Show is facing more turmoil with host James Brayshaw locked in robust contract discussions with Channel Nine over his future.

Insiders say Brayshaw is expecting the “red carpet to be rolled out’’ for him as the linchpin for the show after he steadied the ship following the shock departure of co-host Garry Lyon in March.

“Nothing is concluded, we hear it’s proving to be a little difficult,” a source said.

It is understood that money has yet to be discussed, but according to sources the renegotiation is proving to be “a little more difficult’’ than expected.

Brayshaw did not return calls.

It is the latest chapter in The Footy Show’s turmoil-plagued 2016 story.

Brayshaw, Dave Hughes, Billy Brownless and Shane Crawford are all currently in contract negotiations with the Nine.

Former host Lyon is still in seclusion, managing mental health issues while romancing former best mate Brownless’s ex-wife, and high-paid veteran headline magnet Sam Newman is understood to be bristling after being reined in and told to avoid creating controversy and offence.

Newman was in the headlines on Saturday after Domestic Violence Victoria Chief Executive Fiona McCormack took him to task for his sexist on-air jibes towards co-host Rebecca Maddern.

A fortnight ago he was in the news after it was alleged he pulled a no-show on an edition of the program after a heated debate with show management over a planned inflammatory editorial.

Sources said Newman was told to pull his head in. He called in sick.

Nine maintains Newman was not well enough to go to air.

Speaking on the September 15 edition of the show, Newman did not address the no-show issue but was adamant his future lay with the program.

As it should — the 70-year-old signed a new three-year deal with Nine in August last year.

Meanwhile, the show’s ratings have been on a rollercoaster ride this year. Thursday night’ ratings — the only figures Nine was willing to release — present a 4 per cent lift on the equivalent 2015 figures.

But The Footy Show has aired on Wednesday night five times this season, which when added to the overall picture put the program’s ratings just 1 per cent up 2015.

And while the show started strongly this year, thanks in large part to the Lyon vs. Brownless implosion, its ratings have been trending downwards year on year for 13 of the past 14 weeks.

The show also faces the threat of losing one of its major sponsors, with car giant Nissan understood to be reviewing its support for 2017.

The Footy Show will close out its troubled 2016 with a Grand Final show on Thursday night.

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