Neil Mitchell has refused to buy into speculation that 3AW drive host Tom Elliott will take over the morning slot, occupied by Mitchell since 1990, at the end of the year.

Mitchell is a hugely influential figure in Melbourne’s media industry, consistently the top-rating radio presenter in the 8.30am-noon slot, taking a 17.1 per cent share in the most recent GfK survey with an average audience of 131,000.

He said on Saturday that the radio station’s management had made it clear they wanted him to stay, as contract negotiations between him and 3AW continued.

However, he declined to comment on the exact nature of his future involvement with the station, saying his intention was to stay at 3AW in “some form or another”. 3AW is owned by Nine, the owner of this masthead.

Elliott has occupied the 3-6pm drive slot since 2013. His ratings have had to contend with popular commercial drive programming and ABC Melbourne’s Raf Epstein.

In the most recent survey, Elliott’s show fell to second in the drive slot. He held an 11.4 per cent share, while Nova’s Ricki-Lee, Tim and Joel took an 11.5 per cent share.

Mitchell, 71, declined to comment on industry chatter he would retire from journalism should he be moved along from his traditional slot, using the opportunity to name-check Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, who has not appeared on his show since 2017.

“I hate to channel Daniel Andrews, but all of that is hypothetical at this stage,” he said, adding he was confident he would be happy with the result. “I see Tom every day when he comes in. We have a chat most days and stir each other up a bit. I haven’t got any problems with any of my colleagues, I don’t think.”

As to whether there is any truth to reports he will be replaced on 3AW mornings, he said he “doesn’t know everything that’s going on”.