WTMJ radio fired host Mark Reardon Monday, effective immediately, according to station sources.

The station's Web site doesn't provide details, but had this statement on its front page:

"WTMJ truly regrets to announce that Mark Reardon has left Newsradio 620 WTMJ, effective immediately.

His leaving is the result of 2006 station budget adjustments.

Mark has been a loyal, hard-working employee and we sincerely thank him for his years of service to WTMJ.

Mark has certainly been a favorite of many listers [sic].

Both listeners and the station will miss him. We wish him the best."

For the time being, Reardon's image is still on the masthead of WTMJ's Web site. Journal Communications, Inc., the parent company of the station and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, has seen its stock downgraded by Goldman Sachs to "underperform" in recent weeks. It closed Monday at 13.14, which is .14 percent over its 52-week low.