Ever since it was announced Thursday he was no longer hosting Hockey Central at Noon on The Fan 590, Millard's been inundated with messages from friends asking if he'd lost his TV gig, too.

“I'm negotiating a contract with Sportsnet,” Millard told Usual Suspects on the phone from the NHL draft. “But as far as I know I'll still be working with Kippy (Nick Kypreos) and the guys.”

Millard says he was dismayed hearing that Greg Brady was taking over the noon to 2 p.m. show. (Brady will continue to 3 P.M.)

“I'm disappointed that we spent the last four years building up the franchise, fighting off the competition from AM 640 and we won't be able to continue,” Millard explains. “I thought we had something special going. Now we can't finish it off.”

Millard has been asked to remain as a panelist on Hockey Central. So will Doug MacLean, the former Columbus Blue Jackets GM. Mike Hogan, who lost his longtime morning show in Thursday's purge, will continue as play-by-play voice of the Toronto Argos and the Football Show on The Fan.

Next Man Up

Jeff Lumby knows it's a challenge taking over The Fan 590‘s morning drive show on an interim basis.

What's even harder is finding a silver lining to Toronto's bleak sports scene.

“Toronto FC certainly are hot,” he offered gamely when Usual Suspects called. “But, yeah, there will be some challenges there.”

As for doing sports talk, Lumby couldn't be happier. “Every other station manger I've worked for is telling me to talk less. But Don (Kollins, The Fan's program director) wants me to talk more.”

Lumby's a veteran of music radio who most recently worked in Kitchener, Ont.

“I've always wanted a chance to do sports talk,” he said. “I'm looking at this as an extended audition. I don't know what their plans are, but I'm going to enjoy every second of this.”

And The Fan is already cranking up the hiring process. Mike Richards, Lumby's old partner from Hamilton days, is reportedly under consideration.

The morning show host of Calgary's FAN 960, Richards is a native Torontonian who's been a major ratings success in that city with an irreverent (sacrilegious?) blend of humour and sports.

Richards has crossed over out of the sports box, attracting non-traditional listeners. It would be interesting to see the expressions on Rogers' Toronto suits the first time Richards does his Vijay Singh or Jeff Garcia impersonations.