Radio sources yesterday revealed Hadley’s new contract — which takes effect from tomorrow, July 1 — soared from $2.3 million a year to $4 million a year during secret negations with Macquarie Media bosses last year as they manoeuvred to axe incumbent breakfast star Jones and promote Hadley to his coveted spot.

Neither Hadley nor Macquarie CEO Adam Lang responded to calls to confirm the pay rise that puts Hadley on equal money to Jones though on a longer and ultimately more lucrative contract.

Jones’s contract expires in 2021 while Hadley’s new contract runs until 2025 — putting Hadley on $24 million over six years.

From tomorrow, 2GB’s incoming new afternoon host Steve Price, currently host of the night shift, will also receive a salary bump negotiated last year as part of 2GB’s now abandoned plan to replace Jones at breakfast with Hadley and Hadley at mornings with Price.

That plan fell apart following Nine’s acquisition of a majority stake in Macquarie Media, 2GB’s parent company, in December and Nine’s insistence Jones be retained at breakfast.

The financial sweeteners should offset any embarrassment or inconvenience Hadley and Price may be feeling after being informed they’d have to wait at least two more years — the term of Jones’s newly signed $8 million contract — for their promised slot promotions.

The news comes as 2GB’s new majority shareholder Nine urges financial restraint across the radio network — including cancelling an existing contract with news provider AAP.

The vision for the new 2GB under Nine also has bosses looking for an opportunity to draft one of its established female presenters into a slot on the radio station.