The Last Word is goodbye for Dunphy

EAMON DUNPHY will finally get to have “The Last Word” after announcing he is to quit his popular radio drive-time show on Today FM.

The controversial broadcaster's decision to leave the programme he has presented since the station came on air in 1997 comes just a few months after he agreed a new €400,000 a year contract.

Mr Dunphy's departure may also lead to renewed efforts by Today FM management to entice RTE chief correspondent, Charlie Bird to take over as presenter of the Last Word Show.

Although, Mr Dunphy is officially leaving the programme to pursue a variety of other interests, Today FM sources claimed he had been annoyed to discover that his employers had approached Mr Bird to front the show before they agreed a new contract with him earlier this summer.

“Eamon believed that Today FM were trying to play him off against Bird as a way of keeping down the size of his salary,” said one station insider.

In a statement issued last night, Mr Dunphy insisted he was leaving the station “on good terms.” It is believed he will continue to present the show until the end of November.

He is also understood to have been upset at the departure of The Last Word's producer, Stephen Price and Stuart Carolan who was the creator of the show's most memorable character, Navan Man.

Mr Dunphy also became the focus of much public criticism over his high-profile involvement with Roy Keane at the height of the debacle over Ireland's participation in the World Cup in Japan and South Korea. He is also due to face a drink-driving charge next month.

It is estimated Mr Dunphy's new contract with Today FM had pushed his annual earnings to over 1m, easily making him the best paid journalist in Ireland. However, the former soccer international is unlikely to suffer any financial hardship as he also has regular income from his regular newspaper columns and work with RTÉ.

He can also expect huge royalties from his recently ghosted, best-selling autobiography of Roy Keane., although the fallout from the book led to the break-up of Dunphy's long-standing friendship with fellow commentator, Johnny Giles.

Ironically, British consultants called in after the disastrous launch of the station under its previous name as Radio Ireland recommended the scrapping of The Last Word. However, it went on to become the station's flagship programme attracting a cult, largely male following.

According to the latest radio listnership figures, it commands average audiences of 161,000 compared to its RTÉ rival, Five-Seven Live which attracts 204,000 regular listeners.

While sad to be leaving the programme, Mr Dunphy said The Last Word was “in great shape for the future.”

Today FM said a fresh line-up for The Last Word would be in place early in 2003. In expressing regret at his departure, Today FM chairman, John McColgan described Dunphy as “a legend and great friend.”