http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,3604,1539998,00.html?gusrc=rss"The idea that he's going to create a dynasty in what is effectively a publicly quoted company ... it ain't going to happen," he said. "They (shareholders) are not going to give the company to someone simply because they have the name Murdoch."
Peter Chernin, 53, News Corp's president and chief operating officer, is set to take over Lachlan's responsibilities.
Mr Neil warned yesterday that the media empire, which encompasses newspapers to a Hollywood studio, is much more likely to be broken up when the founder dies. Waiting in the wings is John Malone, the cable magnate whose Liberty Media group last year built up a stake of just under 20% in News Corp.
Industry experts believe Mr Malone, whose assets include the home shopping channel QVC and half of the Discovery television channels, is interested in cherry-picking News Corp assets and will move to prevent any Murdoch heir assuming his father's mantle. "The genius of Rupert Murdoch is his ability to keep it all together," said Mr Neil. "Murdoch's genius dies with him."