Sports Zone's McFarland let go in budget cuts

Nashville’s longest-tenured sports talk broadcast team was broken up on Friday when WGFX-FM 104.5 The Zone announced that afternoon sportscaster Darren McFarland had been let go by the station’s parent company, Citadel Broadcasting.

McFarland had teamed with George Plaster and Willy Daunic, both of whom remain at the station, for the past six years on The Sports Zone, which has dominated its time slot since going on the air. All three had previously been at WWTN prior to coming to The Zone in 2003.

“Darren has been a valued member of the Sports Zone for many years and the decision to part ways was not an easy one,” WGFX general manager Hunter Rice said in a statement. “We appreciate everything Darren has done during his time on the Zone and we wish him well in his future endeavors.”

The move had nothing to do with performance or any issues with McFarland, the company said, but was strictly a monetary decision as the station has been making cutbacks of late.