Nine in turmoil: Is Ray the next to go?

THE Nine Network was in disarray last night, with suggestions its most famous identity, Ray Martin, was about to follow news boss Garry Linnell out the door.

PBL bosses Chris Anderson, left, and John Alexander yesterday. Picture: Alan Pryke

THE Nine Network was in disarray last night, with suggestions its most famous identity, Ray Martin, was about to follow news boss Garry Linnell out the door.

Sources at the network suggested Martin -- Nine's doyen of news and current affairs, who has been with the network almost 30 years -- was frustrated by a perceived lack of leadership.

If he were to leave, he would be following former news and current affairs bosses Peter Meakin, Mark Llewellyn and now Linnell, Sunday executive producer John Lyons, network chief executives David Leckie, Sam Chisholm and David Gyngell, and onscreen identities such as Jana Wendt, Jessica Rowe and Jamie Durie.

All have left during the reign of John Alexander at the Packer family's stock market-listed Publishing & Broadcasting Ltd.

The former Sydney Morning Herald editor, who yesterday appeared with PBL executive deputy chairman Chris Anderson at a briefing for analysts in Sydney, rose through the PBL ranks to become chief executive in 2004.

Founding 60 Minutes producer Gerald Stone singled out Alexander's role in the network in his recently published book Who Killed Channel 9?.

PBL has this year sold down its stake in the Nine Network from full ownership to 25per cent, leaving it under the control of private equity company CVC Asia Pacific. Its results this week showed profits stagnating in the year to June, while those of the rival Seven Network -- now home to a host of disaffected Nine executives such as Leckie, Meakin and Llewellyn -- jumped by more than 60per cent.

The speculation about the latest round of departures has come as 60 Minutes executive producer John Westacott has firmed as favourite for Linnell's job -- an appointment that would polarise Nine staff.

There is speculation that Martin may even stand against Westacott for the vacant role. The Weekend Australian understands that Martin's contract, believed to be worth $1.5million a year, expires at the end of this year.

Sources at Nine have suggested Martin, 62, held a series of discussions with Eddie McGuire when the latter was Nine's chief executive, in which the possibility of hosting his own show was raised. One source suggested Martin had been waiting for almost two years for the promised program to come to fruition.

Martin is said to be unhappy that the plans have stalled -- a disaffection believed to have been accentuated by the departure of Linnell. The two worked together closely on high-profile news specials, most notably last year'shigh-rating first interview after Steve Irwin's death with his wife, Terri.

One of many Nine on-air identities contacted by The Australian yesterday said: "People are scared and shocked by Linnell's departure, and the likely elevation of Westacott, who rules by fear ... it feels like nobody's safe. Lately, it has felt like one funeral after another -- and we know Linnell's won't be the last."

Staff were yesterday divided about Westacott, with an on-air figure saying there was an "anyone-but-Westacott" campaign being waged by certain sections of the news and current affairs operations. Another said: "No one at Nine would divide people as much as Westy."

Some Nine figures even suggested last night that Martin should "throw his hat in the ring" for Linnell's role.

But Charles Wooley, the former full-time 60 Minutes reporter who now hosts a nationally syndicated radio show, last night strongly defended Westacott.

"Without the veneer of professionalism of someone like Westy, the whole thing's going to perish in the icy blasts," he said. "He has enough of the mongrel to make it work." Martin has been in Cambodia and was not available for comment yesterday.

The Nine rumour mill went into overdrive yesterday in the wake of Linnell's departure. Among the suggestions were that Westacott may move to the newly created position of head of television at Nine, with John McAvoy, currently Nine's head of factual television, working under him in as head of news and current affairs.

It is also speculated that Steve Crawley, currently Nine's head of sport, may be a dark horse for the news and current affairs role.

Nine insiders said Crawley was not answering his phone yesterday, but he is believed to have held discussions in recent days with Nine Network executive director Jeff Browne.

It was Browne's approach to Seven wunderkind Adam Boland, producer of Seven's Sunrise, to replace Linnell that prompted his departure.

Other rumours suggested Nine's Melbourne head of news, Michael Venus, is about to move to Sydney in a senior news and current affairs role.