Interesting BBC Press Release today detailing two major changes to the BBC Radio Derby commentary team for the new season.
Radio Derby signs Rams striking legend
The crux of the press release is that Roger Davies, up until now the co-commentator on Ram FM's coverage of County, is joining Radio Derby to be their new Rams summariser now that Gary Rowett is taking up his new position as Burton Albion assistant manager.
That's six summarisers Radio Derby have had since I started listening to the station - they sure do know how to get through them!
Coincidentally, I wonder who'll replace Roger on Ram FM? Are they still doing Derby commentaries this season?
However, what I found most interesting about the press release was this line:
Quote:
“Roger will sit alongside commentator Colin Bloomfield and veteran presenter Colin Gibson for all of the Rams games this season, beginning with the friendly against Stoke on 1 August.”
Although it doesn't say as much explicitly, this for me confirms that - as I and others have speculated over the past few months - former Rams commentator Ross Fletcher has now left Radio Derby, his supposed sabbatical from the station is to become a permanent one, and he will no doubt move onto bigger and better things.
Colin Bloomfield has also replaced Ross on the Radio Derby weekday drivetime show, and by the looks of his
presenters page it reads as if he's there to stay.
Where Ross goes from here remains to be seen - most probably he will either become a permanent member of the East Midlands Today presenting team, a full-time commentator on Radio Five Live or perhaps he will combine these two jobs (both of which he was seemingly doing on an interim basis last season).
It wouldn't even surprise me if Ross pops up doing voiceovers or even commentary on the BBC's Football League TV highlights show next season - if Roger Johnson can get a MOTD commentary job with no TV commentary experience, why not Ross?
I'm pleased for Colin Bloomfield too. Always rated him as a reporter from what I heard of him during his days on BBC Radio Shropshire, BBC WM and BBC Radio Stoke.
He seems to have patiently waited for such a long time for BBC local radio to find him a club to cover on a permanent basis - hopefully he will prove a success as Derby commentator, although IMO it's a big ask to fill the shoes of someone of Fletcher's calibre and popularity.