Company pulls plug on WWZN's local shows

There will be no more local programming on WWZN (1510 AM).

Clancy Woods, president of Sporting News Radio, said last night that the company would have an announcement today, and according to industry sources, SNR is prepared to replace Eddie Andelman and company with its nationally syndicated lineup.

Andelman returned home from Aruba last night to find a phone message calling for a mandatory meeting at WWZN today. He had come back specifically to do his 2-4 p.m. show today as a Breeders' Cup preview from Suffolk Downs.

''The Diehards" -- Ryen Russillo, John Anik, and Anthony Pepe -- were on the air yesterday from 4-7 p.m., thanking their listeners while sounding very much like a group that wouldn't be back on the air again.

''We've known for a while that there would be some sort of changes with the departure of Mike Winn [station GM]," said Russillo last night. ''We knew some people would be let go."

Several months ago, Winn -- who has since joined ESPN Boston Radio (890 AM) -- had said repeatedly the station was on the verge of a contract extension with Russillo. That never happened.

''We'll see what happens today," said Russillo. ''If it is the end, we should all go out with our heads up."

The station launched in the fall of 2001 with hopes of carving a sports audience in a Boston market dominated by WEEI (850 AM). It paid a lavish amount for the Celtics' radio rights and put on high-profile shows with Andelman and Sean McDonough (''The McDonough Group"). However, then-GM Mike Kellogg wasn't able to complete his vision of all-day local programming before SNR pulled the funding plug, leaving the station struggling to stay afloat and pay the Celtics' rights fee.

The Zone got out from under the Celtics deal this season when WRKO (680) bought the rights.

But it apparently didn't happen in time to save the local operation.