Former co-host of the Footy Show, Garry Lyon, is "not in a good space", according to Sam Newman.
Speaking to NOVA 100's Chrissie, Sam and Browny on Monday morning, Newman said he has seen Lyon several times since his falling gout with Bill Brownless was made public.
“What we have forgotten is that unfortunately the position for Rebecca Maddern to come on The Footy Show has been made vacant by Garry Lyon suffering a mental illness of depression,” Newman said.
“I have seen Garry a couple of times and he is not in a good space, he genuinely has depression.”
Newman also said that Lyon's depression has “nothing to do with Bill Brownless and that private matter that went on”.
“We addressed that on The Footy Show because we thought if we didn’t it would be hypocritical,” Newman said.
“We made a considered judgement, if we have any credibility because we beat the living suitcase out of anyone else, we will touch on it and we did.
“Rebecca Maddern is one the show because Garry Lyon is not. We looked for someone else to replace him, when I say we the company did, she, gender not withstanding was the best person we could come up with.”
Maddern will make her debut as co-host of the program this Thursday night.
