Adrian Gunnell backing calls for Barry Hearn to quit
Tuesday 6th December 2011, 10:59AM GMT.
Shropshire snooker star Adrian Gunnell today backed his “brave” UK Championship conqueror Mark Allen – and joined his call for World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn to go.
Telford’s Gunnell was beaten 6-3 by world No 16 Allen in the first round clash at the Barbican Centre in York yesterday.
Allen has subsequently sparked controversy by criticising Hearn’s snooker revolution, claiming: “It’s time to let someone else have a go.” The comments were music to the ears of Gunnell, a long-term critic of Hearn’s plans, who said: “I totally agree with him.
“It’s very brave of him to say it because he’s put his head on the chopping block and we are gagged these days – we can’t say what we feel because we start getting fines. It is the players who voted for Barry Hearn so they only have themselves to blame. It is getting like darts in that people are encouraged to shout and they’re drinking and getting drunk.
“There is nothing wrong with the sport, it doesn’t need these drastic changes and they are cheapening it.
“When the vote was imminent and it looked like it was going to be pushed through, I advised everyone this would be the case but no-one listened.
“I still feel I could happily walk away from it,” he added. “But at the moment I’ve got nothing else I want to do.”
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I couldn’t agree more with Mark Allen and Adrian Gunnell saying it’s getting more like darts. Ever since I first heard Rob Walker shouting ‘Let’s get the boys on the baize’ and then playing some awful music as the players walk to the table, I knew it was the start of an enormous downhill spiral for the game. What will Hearne do next, make Michaela Tabb wear stockings,suspenders and a basque? Can we please return to snooker as we all know and love it and do away with all this common rubbish? Sorry Mr. Hearn, but I think it’s time you found yourself a new hobby before you ruin the game for good.
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Endorsed. Why does he feel that he has to bow to the lowest common denominator? No doubt Gunnell and Allen will be heavily fined and censored for their ‘insolence’.
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Really? After such a short time already? I’m sorry, but it’s to difficult to keep silent. Peter Ebdon warned everyone. (and you know he takes his time to think things through in matters of snooker) Anyone with a bit of common sense knew this was going to be a bad idea from the start. Ronnie backing Barry Hearn only to start complaining straight away was to be expected. He has never been the most consistent in his communication. But now, the rest starts to realise that they’ve thrown the game away for good. Like Peter said; ‘this is forever boys’.
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Can I just say ‘Yes, please’ to Michaela in suspenders. Maybe Barry Hearn isn’t all bad, after all…
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I interviewed Adrian Gunnell after his match with Mark Allen at the UK Championships. The interview is on our facebook page at facebook.com/EnglishSnooker You may find it interesting.
I would like to say what a charming man Adrian is. I am one of the people that dare not comment on the Barry Hearn issue but I do respect very much people like Adrian and Mark that have the courage to stand up for what they believe in.
I would say that there are some really nice people working at World Snooker and those I have met are really passionate about the game and what they do. Im choosing my words really carefully here but please do not assume that everyone is either for (or against) a particular position. We live in tough times people and if your job depended on you keeping your mouth shut what would you do, especially just before Christmas?
I love snooker. I always have and I always will, its why Im doing what Im doing for next to nothing in return. Whatever happens to the game, I hope it survives what I think is an upcoming storm.
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