Former NHL All-Star Danny Gare, the club's TV color analyst for the last three seasons, was informed yesterday that he will not be offered a new contract when his current deal expires on July 1.

Meanwhile, Bill Davidge, who has done radio color commentary since the Blue Jackets took the ice in 2000-01, was switched to the TV booth to work in the same capacity with play-by-play voice Jeff Rimer.

Rimer and George Matthews, the radio play-by-play voice, were informed by the club that they'll remain in their current posts.

"I worked very hard in my three years here," Gare told The Dispatch. "I enjoyed working for Fox Sports Ohio. I learned a lot from (producer) Ed Milliken, and I like what I see from the franchise moving forward. It's unfortunate I won't be moving forward along with it.

"There's great fans in Columbus, and I got to meet a lot of them. I wish Bill Davidge a lot of success. I've known him for a long time, and the opportunity will be good for him."

Marc Gregory, the Blue Jackets' director of marketing, described the decision to not bring back Gare as a "difficult personnel decision made because of tough economic times." He would not elaborate, although Gare said he was not asked to take a pay cut.

"It's a bittersweet day for me," Rimer said. "I'm the one who wanted Danny to come here when Brian (Engblom) left" for a job with the cable network Versus.

"But I'm excited to work with Bill. He really knows the game. He knows it from all angles, and he's really excited."

Davidge described the 2009-10 season as a "new adventure" for him.

"For eight years, working with George, I knew what was coming," Davidge said. "This is uncharted territory for me. I've done TV before, but this is new and it's going to require me to learn more and get better.

"It's a challenge, and I'm excited for that. And yet I'll miss having a class guy like Danny Gare around on a daily basis."

Sources said that the club was inundated with phone calls, e-mails and letters in support of Davidge and Matthews last week when news broke that their future was being decided by three Blue Jackets executives -- director of business operations Larry Hoepfner, director of broadcasting Russ Mollihan and Gregory.

Gregory said the outpouring of support did not sway the club's decision. It sure moved Matthews and Davidge, however.

"The fan support we received during a difficult time is really appreciated," Matthews said. "It's nice to know the fans believe in what you do."

Gregory said the club is accepting applications for the radio color commentator's job, but there was no timetable for filling it. He did not rule out a former Blue Jackets player's getting the job, but said the club wasn't limited to that option.

Gregory would not reveal the terms of the new contracts agreed to by Rimer, Davidge and Mathews.