McKernan and co-host Jim Hayes have been working on a handshake arrangement at KSLG (1380 AM) since their deals expired more than a month ago. The other co-host of the popular morning show, Doug Vaughn, already was without a contract.

Now McKernan confirms he has received an offer to jump back to KFNS (590 AM), where he headed the highly rated morning show before it was dismantled in a series of moves by Atlanta-based Big League Broadcasting management before the plug finally was pulled in the summer of 2007. But a local group with KFNS general manager Dave Greene as the front man now runs the station.

"I'm flattered that the new management team at KFNS is interested in bringing me on board,'' McKernan said.

Greene declined to comment but his pitch to McKernan is believed to be for him to man KFNS' afternoon drive show, which has been a ratings lightweight since Kevin Slaten was fired a year-and-a-half ago. But the catch is that McKernan couldn't bring along Hayes and Vaughn because of commitments in that time slot to their primary employers — Hayes at Fox Sports Midwest, Vaughn at KMOV (Channel 4). McKernan would prefer to keep the show intact and is awaiting final word on approval of his contract from station owner Simmons Media, probably next week.

It seems imperative for Simmons to keep the show if it wants to remain a significant player in sports-talk format. In the last 18 months or so it has lost four men in key roles — Bernie Miklasz, Randy Karraker, Martin Kilcoyne and Jay Randolph Jr.

"It's important, we consider it the best show on sports radio,'' KSLG general manager John Helmkamp said, adding that he is "98 percent confident we'll get (the deal) done soon.''

But a big key to McKernan's success has been teaming with Hayes and Kilcoyne years ago at KFNS, now with Hayes and Vaughn.

McKernan said he "can't convey enough how much I enjoy doing'' the show at 1380, "how much I appreciate the manner and class with which John Helmkamp runs the station, how much I like and respect 'The Cat' (Hayes), Doug, and 'Producer Joe' (Pelusi). Furthermore, how much I believe it's the cast and not one individual that makes it successful. So, ideally, we'd be able to keep the show together. But, I understand that wouldn't be an option at KFNS.

"I'd really like it if everything was worked out so we could stay together. ... However, the fact that there's a great situation and offer from 590 is exciting."

And he took a poke at himself and the sometimes frat-party tone to the program.

"The only thing more shocking than the fact that people actually listen to our show is the fact that there are stations that are really hoping to have this juvenile song and dance on their airwaves."