Hamilton saw 'way the wind was blowing' on RTE Sport exit

Sports commentator George Hamilton has said he could "see the way the wind was blowing" at RTÉ Sport, so he decided the "time had come" to end his sports work at the broadcaster.

Mr Hamilton announced that he has left RTÉ Sport after 40 years of voicing some of the most iconic sporting moments.

His commentary for the Ireland-Romania Italia '90 penalty shootout, and his line "The nation holds its breath" became synonymous with one of the greatest moments in Irish soccer.

"I was not working as much as I used to," Mr Hamilton said.

However, speaking on RTÉ's Drivetime, the freelance contributor said he has "no intention" of ending his career in sports commentating, and so he will "look around and see what else might be there."

"I have no intention of hanging up the mic, to use that cliché. I enjoy commentating. I still think I have something to offer.

"So when the time was coming towards the end of my contract with RTÉ Sport, I decided have a look around and see what else might be there, because I was not working as much as I used to on RTÉ Sport.

"We came to an agreement, and very happy to say that that's the direction I'm moving in."

Mr Hamilton said his parting of ways with RTÉ was amicable, but he said he could "see the way the wind was blowing" in relation to his sports work at the broadcaster.

"Of course, it was amicable.

"There is a finite date on a contract. An RTÉ freelance contract says very clearly, 'This does not mean employment'.

"I wanted to continue commentating. But I held straws in the wind, and I could see the way the wind was blowing.

"I wasn't involved with the Irish team to the extent that I was I was involved with the Irish women's team and underage teams.

"It had got to the point where I was saying to myself,