• Snooker

Davison stirs power struggle by snubbing meeting

WPBSA chairman Barry Hearn is under pressure to provide rival John Davison with a fair shot at challenging for his position © Getty Images

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The battle to run snooker is at boiling point after World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association chairman Barry Hearn's main rival for the position, John Davison, refused an invitation to attend the players' meeting in Sheffield.

Davison is making his second attempt to take control of the professional game after an unsuccessful bid in 2002 and is believed to have the support of players including Stephen Hendry, Peter Ebdon and Ding Junhui. Despite this, the former Olympic shooter feels his bid is not being afforded the same exposure as the proposal by current chairman Hearn.

"We do not feel that the board is adopting a fair process or creating a level playing field for all bids," Davison said in a statement."I therefore cannot accept their invitation to attend.

"I very much want to address the players directly, something that the WPBSA board has expressly stated that I am not to do.

"I want them to have the chance to ask me the many questions I am sure that they have before making such a massive decision. I am always happy to compete - in sport or business - as long as I know that the rules are fair and being abided by."

Hearn, who has overseen a tumultuous period in the game, seemed set to regain his position until Davison came forward with his bid last week and the veteran sports promoter is under pressure from his rival to clarify the process by which a decision can be made regarding any change in office.

"I obviously considered the WPBSA's invitation to attend the EGM very seriously but the meeting has been convened to consider Barry Hearn's ultimatum: it has a fixed agenda and cannot allow a vote on our proposal.

"Unfortunately, we have been told nothing that makes clear how the independent directors of the WPBSA envisage us being involved, and even if this were given to us now ahead of the EGM we would obviously not have enough time to prepare properly for the meeting.

"I'm afraid this only reinforces my view that the sport needs to realign itself very quickly to the modern era if it is to have any future at all."

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