Former newsreader Jim Waley and the Nine Network are due in court in Sydney tomorrow over Waley’s removal as Nine’s Sydney 6pm newsreader in January. That decision, taken by Sydney news director Max Uechtritz and backed by former CEO David Gyngell, has seen Nine’s Sydney news ratings plummet as viewers take time to adjust to new reader, Mark Ferguson.

Waley, who had more than two years left on his contract, wants to be paid out. Nine has been reluctant and has tried hard to get him back, offering him his old gig of fronting the Sunday program next year, replacing Jana Wendt. But that was nipped in the bud when Gyngell quit and Sam Chisholm, who was instrumental in slotting Jana Wendt into the Sunday role, assumed power.

Chisholm is understood to be pushing to resolve the Waley situation one way or another. Part of the problem from Waley’s point of view was the churlish way Nine has refused to acknowledge his 36 years of long and honourable service at Nine. An out-of-court settlement wouldn’t be a surprise, but nor would a decision to play hardball. It’s up to Chisholm to resolve this messy situation.