Barry Hearn’s snooker transformation plan faces opposition
Barry Hearn's drastic plan to renovate snooker is facing a surprising late challenge by Lee Doyle, the chairman and organising head of 110sport’s. This very company is snooker’s biggest player management organization. Lee Doyle’s opposition is followed by John Davison, a city figure who just retired from the venture capitalists Bridgepoint.
Hearn's transformation plan will be discussed at the emergency general meeting of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) on Wednesday. In case the plan gets rejected, John Davison's bid will be put forward at the following EGM. Hearn proposes the WPBSA becomes an exclusive rule in the world of snooker into a regulatory and disciplinary authority, in which Hearn's company Matchroom will be acquiring a 51% stake and would pay £255,000 for this share.
"The reason I want 51% is that I don't want to do the major job that is needed to revive snooker and then leave myself vulnerable to a coup from a combination of other shareholders," said Hearn.
According to Davison's plans, he would hold a 63% share in commercial assets of snooker for £315,000. On the other hand, the WPBSA would be content with 37% shares in relation to players' trust. He has recommended that this £315,000 would be paid to the voting membership to the top 64 players as a special dividend in cash soon after the acquisition is completed.
Hearn has condemned the offer. He described it as a "barefaced attempt to buy votes which in any case, under our constitution, was illegal".
While Hearn's bid promises £4.5m in prize money for next season's tournament, increasing the amount by 5% per annum, Davison's long released plans were revealed on Thursday eve. According to the document, he has assured £5m which would grow by £200,000 every year. Davison vowed more ranking circuits but has offered no information on sponsors, dates, broadcasting or venues arrangements.
Barry Hearn, Chairman of World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, has moved to support his most prized playing talent, Ronnie O'Sullivan, ahead of a vital player vote on Wednesday that will determine snooker's future.
Hearn's plans to initiate a chain of new events, while taking a 51 percent stake in the commercial activities of game, will be determined at an emergency general meeting of the WPBSA this week.
An alternative idea revealed by the end of last week and headed by the former Olympian and respected city figure Davison, has split the game leaving some players in a predicament.
Davison has vowed an instant £5,000 "dividend" to the top 64 players – a significant incentive to those struggling on £9,000 a year lower down the rankings.
Ronnie O'Sullivan, who implicitly announced that he might retire shortly, said that he has very good feelings about what Hearn is trying to do. He further added that Barry has been very straight with him and his plans are quite exciting.
O'Sullivan told that Barry said to him: “I want you on board. I don't want someone who isn't too sure; I want Ronnie O'Sullivan who wants to play snooker. I can do it without you, but I would much rather do it with you.”
Hearn got the chairmanship of WPBSA after his antecedent Sir Rodney Walker, and two other board members, Mike Dunn and Jim McMahon were ousted in December's annual general meeting on a vote of no confidence.
These three ousted board members are among Hearn's opponents, as well as Lee Doyle, who did not come up for re-election but resigned soon after Hearn had objected that his admittance to information was giving 110sport many commercial benefits, particularly in China, which comprised an unacceptable clash of interest.
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