Barry Hearn backed to blaze trail

Published on Wednesday 18 November 2009 22:11

BARRY Hearn has been backed to put the X Factor back into snooker and rekindle the golden days of the 1980s and 1990s.

The sports promoter has agreed to step in as chairman of the game's governing body, the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, if Sir Rodney Walker is axed following next month's AGM.

Scot Pat Mooney, chief executive of Stirling-based FSTC Sports Management, whose clients include world champion John Higgins and 2006 world champion Graeme Dott, said: "Barry is one of the most respected figures in the sports business and if the players decide not to re-elect Sir Rodney Walker, Barry has agreed to come in as chairman which would be a hugely exciting development."

The decision to tackle Walker is the result of frustration felt by some within the sport that the Yorkshireman and his association has blanked the new Snooker Professionals Association, created by Mooney to give players more of a voice in the running of the sport. Mooney added:

"Right now, the X Factor is missing in snooker, someone like Barry can put it back into the sport."

Hearn said: "I am not currently looking for and neither do I need to take this step, however, I do believe there has never been a better time for expansion of the game and it would be a challenge I would relish."