We’ve received multiple reports in the last few days that WGN-AM has offered Garry Meier a contract to fill the 1-4pm vacancy that has been open since John Williams moved to mornings in December. We’re also hearing that Meier has not yet signed that contract because his agent — and his wife — Cindy Meier (nee Fircak) is not happy with the terms of the deal. It’s not clear what specific points of negotiation are being raised, but multiple sources indicate that the deal is far from being done and may be in jeopardy, based on Mrs. Meier’s involvement.

Cindy Meier is credited (or blamed) by many for partially exacerbating Garry’s departure from WLS-AM in 2004 when station management played hardball with Garry and then-partner Roe Conn. In September of 2003, Meier fired his agent Todd Musberger and retained his wife, a real estate attorney, to represent him through the tumultuous negotiations. In the end, Garry was unable reach a deal with WLS, which lead to a nasty split between himself and Conn. Some have claimed that Cindy Meier clouded Garry’s judgment during the negotiations.

Garry recently auditioned on WGN for the afternoon slot, receiving wide acclaim from industry insiders and the general public. Most thought that Garry was a lock for the gig, especially when WLUP-FM re-signed Jonathan Brandmeier to a new deal. Johnny B’s name had also been in the mix for the WGN afternoon slot.

Most recently, Garry hosted mid-mornings on the late WCKG-FM for the better part of 2007, until the station flipped formats in November of that year. Prior to that, Garry had been off the air since leaving WLS in early 2004.

If Cindy Meier is indeed holding up Garry’s deal at WGN, some hard questions need to be answered in the Meier household. While plenty of air talent are represented by family members, one has to wonder if Cindy Meier truly understands her husband’s value in the current economic climate. If she counseled Garry to walk away from a seven-figure deal at WLS in 2004 because she felt he could do better, it’s hard to say what kind of advice she’s giving Garry now, at a time when names like Jonathan Brandmeier and Drex are signing for considerably less to host mornings and names like Steve Dahl, Eddie & JoBo, and Mike North are no longer heard on terrestrial radio.