ITV Central Sports presenters jumping ship!

It's been brought to my attention that long- standing ITV Sport presenter Gary Newbon has been presenting darts and greyhound racing on Sky Sports recently.

I know that nice (but utterly useless) Brian Barwick disposed of Gary's services as touchline reporter at live football matches on ITV last year and dumped him completely from Euro 2004 coverage but I thought Gary still had a role at Central and is still listed as the presenter of Soccer Night. Those of you in the Central region- does Gary still present/ appear on Soccer Night?

Good to see Gary has made such a good recovery from a stroke.

Also, I've today seen long- standing ATV/ Central and occasional ITV Sport presenter Bob Hall contributing to Sky Sports' 'Soccer Saturday' programme. Has he also left Central completely? Has he stopped reading the sport on Central News? Bob also used to appear on 'The Channel Four Daily' and occasionally worked for ITN.

If so, Central, and, to an extent, ITV have lost two long- serving presenters/ reporters in a relatively short space of time.

I get the feeling both of these veteran presenters jumped off a sinking ship whilst their careers and reputations were still in tact!

Can anyone confirm the situation?

bob hall hasnt been on central news for months. when scaled back his contributions to itv sport, he filled mark bolton's shoes when he left to join sky - and did the sport on central news at 6, and central sports specials.

since then gary has disappeared from central completely, sarah jane me and matt something from central east now do the sport on central west.

neither bob or gary were given an on-screen send off, to my knowledge.

I thought Gary was head of sport at Central/Carlton?

He was, but some reason just left, but still appears on Central Soccer Night. Sarah Jane Mee has also staring to disapear, as she is presenting fewer Soccer Nights and Central News Sport. Somethings funny going on at ITV Central. Not just the sports presenters. Robin Powell also does reports for Sky Sports now, as well as reports on ITV Central News. Llewella, one of the top presenters has also disapeared. Im surprised Bob Hall did not get a good send of as he has been with them since Bob Warmen has. He just disapeared. Like I say something appears to be fishy there. A lot of weird goings -ons.

Does Gary STILL appear on Central Soccer Night on Thursdays? I was staying with a friend in the Central region recently and Sarah Jane presented it with two ex footballers as pundits but no Gary. This was about 2 weeks ago.

Reason I'm questioning it is that Gary presents Premier League darts live on Sky Sports on Thursday nights about once a fortnight from different venues around the country. I know Central Soccer Night goes out live so it'd be impossible for him to do both.

In well under a year Mark Boulton, Bob Hall, Gary Newbon to name but three have all left Central for Sky Sports. This is indeed very fishy.

well i, personally, haven't seen gary on central soccer night for months.

yes i watch central soccer night and he is always on there

Hmmm something up at Central methinks. Not surprised the likes of Bob or Mark jumped ship - ITV are treating regional news teams with not respect and they both had a lot of talent.

Central News is a shadow of its former self. Once brimming full of talent and definately one of the best regional news programmes - with the ability to beat Midlands Today, it seems to have just given up.

Where has the talent gone? Sports presenters are rubbish, and probably shouldn't have graduated from local radio. News presenters are disappearing. Jonathan Ray left for the BBC, Llewela has disappeared and hopefully Jo Malin is just taking a week off.

Bob and Jo are holding the show together whilst other presenters and reporters jump ship, and the others freelancing.

Sorry for taking it slightly off topic.

The proof about Gary Newbon can be discovered tonight. There was no Premier League Darts on Sky Sports tonight so Gary Newbon hasn't been working for them today.

If he doesn't present 'Central Soccer Night' tonight we can assume he's left completely.