Calling the move disgraceful, Paul Finebaum called out Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne on Thursday for the decision to split play-by-play duties between Eli Gold and Chris Stewart for the upcoming Crimson Tide football season.

“I found the news yesterday to be disgraceful,” Finebaum told me Thursday during his weekly appearance on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5. “Disgraceful because he told me – and I know he has told you – after spending 240 days in a hospital and working through cancer and overcoming it, inspiring thousands in the state and around the country, to get back into the booth, then have the rug pulled from under him is to me an affront.”

Gold, who missed all of last season due to cancer, told AL.com coming back in a part-time capacity was a precaution in an attempt to re-gain his strength.

“I’m thrilled to be back in the booth, needless to say,” Gold said by phone Wednesday. “I’m absolutely thrilled. After a good bit of consideration, I feel like I did a good job. We had good practice games and scrimmages, but I need to work on getting my strength back. The travel, I don’t know how much that will take out of me and so on, so I’m going to do the home games and the talk shows. Chris will do the road games.”

The news was released by the university, but Finebaum lays the decision at Byrne’s feet, describing the decision as astonishing.

“I’ve known (Gold) for 40 years,” Finebaum said. “He wouldn’t put himself in a position where he was less than 100 percent.”

The SEC Network analyst pointed out his remarks had nothing to do with Chris Stewart, who he calls “an outstanding broadcaster.”

“I’m extremely sad,” Finebaum said. “I’m thrilled he’s back, but this really isn’t fair to him. … For someone in Eli’s position with his stature and gravitas that he has held over this program for so long to say, ‘OK, you’re back, but you can only do this.’ To me, it’s a shock to the system. I can’t believe it.”

Meanwhile Stewart, who filled in for Gold last season, was humbled by the announcement Wednesday.

“First of all, I’m thankful Eli is healthy enough to return to a job that means so much to him,” Stewart told AL.com. “Second, I’m grateful to continue to be a part of this fantastic Crimson Tide Sports Network broadcast team.

“In my lifetime, only John Forney, Paul Kennedy and Eli have been the radio voices of Alabama football. It’s an incredible honor to join this list of men, for which I have so much respect. I’m blessed to have the opportunity to share the message of the Crimson Tide with such an incredible fan base.”

Check out the complete WNSP interview here.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.