David Harber has lost his job as managing director of Juice FM - just two weeks after the station was sold back to its founders.

The position has been axed to reduce costs at the station, which last year made a loss of £500,000 with net liabilities of about £1 million.

Juice was bought for £450,000 by a new company, Brighton and Hove Radio (BHR), formed by the team who originally launched the station as Surf FM in 1998.

Co-director Steve Stark said Mr Harber's departure was part of the first phase of changes.

He said the decision was mutual and it was hoped Mr Harber would be able to take up a new position with the company in January.

Mr Harber, 27, will concentrate on developing his consultancy business in the Canaries in the next few months.

He said: "Juice has been through an exhilarating time over the last 12 months. The team has built revenue and audience levels to their highest in company history.

"But now it's time for the station to be taken to the next level under a new structure.

"I will use this sabbatical not only to continue working in the industry I am passionate about but also to relax in the sunshine."

Mr Stark, 27, described Mr Harber's departure as very friendly and said the company was very supportive of his break from UK radio.

He said: "Throughout the takeover process, David talked about his desire to further develop his consultancy business while taking a break from the UK winter."

Station manager Matthew Bashford said Mr Harber might still have a role to play helping BHR buy out other radio stations.

He said: "David is doing some consultancy work for three months with a view to working with Brighton and Hove Radio in the new year."

Troubled media group Forever Broadcasting sold Juice earlier this month because of its substantial losses. But despite the station's grim outlook, Mr Stark and co-director David Nathan are convinced they can revive Juice, which broadcasts on 107.2FM.

At the time of the takeover, Mr Nathan told The Argus: "I think one of the reasons Forever Broadcasting did not do as well as it hoped was because it was so removed, culturally, from Brighton.

"The company has a fantastic record in big city radio stations but Brighton is not a typical big city."

Wednesday October 22, 2003