How the tide would appear to be turning. Ahead of Wednesday’s EGM, Ding Junhui has joined Stephen Hendry, Mark King and Peter Ebdon in voicing his support for John Davison…
Ding is quoted at Sporting Life as saying:
“John Davison wants to work with us in a partnership rather than own us. Snooker can only belong to the players,”
“I do think that he is offering the things I am interested in as a player who has come through the ranks and wants snooker to grow.
“I have taken a few days to look at the options and speak to different people, especially those around me who I trust. And I think we must trust Mr Davison.”
Davison meanwhile is quoted by The Telegraph as saying:
“I see a great opportunity because snooker is a fantastic sport with a fantastic heritage. Any sport with the sort of background snooker has can be part of the mainstream, but it has fallen a long way from there. The players are very aware of the gravity of the position the sport finds itself in but I hope we can work together to put it on a stable foundation again.”
“I look at organisations like MotoGP, F1 and Uefa, and they are extremely professional and sophisticated in the way they relate with sponsors and broadcasters.
“Snooker is not currently anywhere near that league. I think we can build a sport that appeals to the corporate world, big business and major sponsors and broadcasters, and that’s what I hope to offer. Ultimately the players will choose the vision they prefer.”
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6 comments
Trophymad
June 1, 2010 at 4:11 am (UTC 0)
God this is getting really strange, isn’t it? First there was Doyle with his last minute alternative to the Hearn plan, now there’s Davison. I don’t envy the players right now. I don’t want to have to make that choice. Both offers have their good sides but they also leave a lot of questions open.
I guess it all comes down to this: Who do you trust more with your sport, your career, your outcome?
I’m still with Hearn’s plan because he has allreaddy shown his true collours from day one he became chairman of the WPBSA board. And I like what I’ve seen so far… Will all this sponsors, all the contact Barry brought in stay even if Davison’s plan is elected tomorrow? Or will they go (which would be a katastrophy for Snooker)?
I don’t have to make a choice but even I feel like sitting between chairs and I don’t like it.
Witz78
Twitter: witz78
June 1, 2010 at 4:38 pm (UTC 0)
Dings just another 110 sport puppet in this shambles. Told what to do!! Shocking so many have sided with Davison almost from the minute he appeared without knowing the first thing about his plans. And those backing him cos theyll get 5k and benefit from ranking systems staying the same and limited opportunities for newcomers still, are scum who are killing the game.
porridge
June 1, 2010 at 5:44 pm (UTC 0)
Completely agree with you, Witz78. In here, and in SSB.
It could just be that these players backing Davison know as much about the plan as we do, meaning nothing concrete. And to say the least, I’d find that really disturbing. And if we don’t hear anything sensible tomorrow and players still going for Davison bid, then snooker might as well die.
But then again, I can always easily stop watching snooker altogether if the game does fall into the hands of traditionalists again. I don’t want to judge too much now but it’s clear that Davison must come clean about the personnel issues tomorrow and about everything else as well, and I really mean EVERYTHING…
Witz78
Twitter: witz78
June 1, 2010 at 8:19 pm (UTC 0)
Davison aint even going tomorrow now, says it all really. Running scared that Hearn exposes his rival bid for what it really is….
Andy
June 2, 2010 at 12:26 pm (UTC 0)
I wonder what John davison can do for this snookering scene. I suppose his intention is to bring this snookering scene another level higher. Time will tell.
Shawerr
June 2, 2010 at 7:42 pm (UTC 0)
bye bye davison, hearn was backed and rightly so. davison seemed a shady character to me even after my hero hendry backed him.