Neil Breen quits as Today boss to become sports reporter In-fighting: the hosts of Today. Following months of in-fighting and controversy at Channel Nine, Today executive producer Neil Breen is to leave the program and take up a position as a sports reporter. A former editor of The Sunday Telegraph, Breen reportedly approached senior management at the network on Tuesday, including chief executive and good friend David Gyngell, to inform them of his intention to stand down and "clear the air." The move follows Private Sydney's revelations last week that Breen had personally hired high-profile defamation lawyer Mark O'Brien to warn off any further potentially damaging articles from being published by News Corp Australia, a move that infuriated management at Nine, including news director Darren Wick. Breen had become the subject of much scrutiny following a series of on-set blow-ups between him and cast members, including Ben Fordham. He denied being part of the reason that presenter Lisa Wilkinson walked off the show in a flood of tears. Breen said last week that, contrary to reports, it was he who consoled Wilkinson after an on-air jibe from co-host Karl Stefanovic upset her, but Wilkinson subsequently disputed his account. Breen also claimed his decision to step down had been driven by "gossip columnists" calling his wife, Sunday Telegraph food reviewer Elizabeth Merryment. However, it was Merryment who called PS last week to offer her unsolicited version of events and dispute claims senior management at Nine were furious with her husband after he took legal action without their consent. "David Gyngell couldn't care less," she told PS.