Ginger Gadsden will sign off from WTSP in Tampa-St. Petersburg when her contract expires on June 30, according to Eric Deggans of the Tampa Bay Times.

Gadsden, who joined the CBS affiliate in 2006, anchors the morning and noon newscasts. She cited the early-morning schedule as a reason for her departure.

“I don’t think your body is made to wake up at 2 a.m., no matter how long you do it,” Gadsden told Deggans. “But (WTSP) has solid anchors in the evening; if it ain’t broke don’t fix it, I understand. I’m just grateful I got a chance to work with such great people.”

Weekend morning anchor Allison Kropff will replace Gadsden on the morning newscast.

Saying that he felt there was “an opportunity for growth” in the time period,  WTSP president and general manager Ken Tonning announced this week that the station will debut a new, half-hour newscast at 9 a.m.

“10 News at 9am” will be anchored by Keith Jones and Ginger Gadsden, with Bobby Deskins doing weather.

The new, weekday newscast will be feature-oriented, focusing on issues important to women.  It is set to premiere on Monday.

“I don’t think anyone owns the time period,” Tonning told the St. Petersburg Times. “And we know there’s a market for local programming in the mornings.”