The Daily Telegraph, which first reported Williams had suddenly quit on Wednesday, now suggests a “heated and angry” exchange with a Nine News executive may have triggered the decision, further claiming it had heard Sydney news director Simon Hobbs ultimately made the call that led to Williams’ resignation.“Sources claim Williams, described by colleagues as a ‘troubled and dark’ character, let fly to his news boss Hobbs, either over a meal or via email, about his frustrations at working for Sydney’s No. 1 TV newsroom three to four weeks ago,” a column in The Saturday Telegraph read.However, a Nine spokeswoman dismissed that claim.In an email sent on Wednesday, seen by the publication, Williams told Channel 9 colleagues “with a heavy heart” he had decided to resign from the network.“Leaving the best team in News is difficult and being part of that team an honour,” he said.“But I have struggled for years with increasingly poor health and I want to address that now for the sake of a more important team, my family.”Nine’s director of news Darren Wick had also emailed staff stating Williams was leaving to focus on his health and then to pursue other opportunities, and thanked him for his contributions.When thanking people for their well-wishes on Twitter on Wednesday afternoon, Williams said: “I need to sort a few health issues and then back into it.”NRL presenter and host James Bracey has replaced Williams in recent weeks, but Nine is yet to announce who will be replacing Williams on a permanent basis.The 59-year-old first moved to Nine as a sports presenter in 2010.He has also worked as a weekend breakfast morning TV host.In an extraordinary career, Williams has previously worked for The Courier-Mail, The Australian, Fox Sports and Channel 7.news.com.au has contacted Nine for comment.
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