7 Affadavit: Meakin promised Boland top News job

Seven’s director of news and current affairs Peter Meakin had promised Adam Boland he would succeed him, according to an affadavit filed in the Federal Magistrates Court last week.

Boland, 35, claims Meakin had made the assurances across a period of four years.

But the job offer was never realised, with Brisbane News Director Rob Raschke telling colleagues last June he would be taking the role.

The Australian today has published elements of the affidavit, which form part of a legal wrangle that sees Boland suing Seven.

According to the statement Boland “had formed the opinion that he would not be promoted to the position of director of news and public affairs, contrary to the representations referred to”.

He also claims Jeffrey Browne offered him the top news job at Nine, but Seven convinced him to stay in a part-time role. His fulltime salary of $550,000 plus bonuses would be followed by a two day a week consulting position on a salary of $150,000 until November 2012.

Contracts notwithstanding, Boland is now tipped to be following James Warburton to TEN. The legal stoush is a surprising move given his championing of Seven in the past.

“I’m actually terribly sad that things have got to this. I adore the team at Seven and many of my best friends are there. I truly hope we can resolve things,” he tells The Australian.

A Seven spokesman said: “Business as usual here at Seven. Adam’s in London for our coverage of the royal wedding across Sunrise and The Morning Show.”