WFAN-AM host Mike Francesa will leave the station "as scheduled" on Dec. 15, despite talks that he might stay on following Craig Carton’s "resignation following his Ponzi scheme arrest," according to Amara Grautski of the N.Y. DAILY NEWS. Francesa said, "The station is comfortable with that (decision) and I am, too." Grautski notes although Francesa "admitted there were 'conversations' about potentially staying on, his leaving 'as scheduled is something we decided to do.'" A source said that CBS Radio, which owns WFAN, wound up "offering Francesa a one-year deal to stay past Dec. 15" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 9/20). On Long Island, Neil Best notes Francesa's last show will "emanate from WFAN’s studios and feature only callers." WFAN VP/Programming Mark Chernoff had "set Labor Day as a goal to name Francesa’s successor or successors." Now he has "two key roles to fill, and presumably will need three people to fill them, because there likely would not be a solo show in afternoon drive time." Producer Al Dukes said that he "suggested to management" that Carton's former show stick with update anchor Jerry Recco to "maintain continuity and keep the show within the regular cast." Recco, who has been filling in for Carton, said that he "does not expect to be considered a permanent replacement" (NEWSDAY, 9/20).
