Doyle quits WPBSA board

Hearn: Welcomed Doyle's resignation

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Lee Doyle has resigned from the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association board in protest at chairman Barry Hearn's restructuring plans.

Hearn is set to take a controlling interest in World Snooker, the commercial arm of the WPBSA, if his proposals are accepted by the players next month.

Doyle - the chairman of the 110sport Group - is against Hearn automatically being handed a 51 percent stake.

Whilst outlining that his position had become untenable, he also called on the players to "see the bigger picture" when they come to vote.

Completely opposed

"I feel that my current position is now untenable given that I am completely opposed to the proposals the chairman, Barry Hearn, has laid out, whereby the controlling rights in the company are handed over to him," he said.

"I do understand what Barry is trying to achieve in snooker and we have discussed this at considerable length, but on this one we agree to disagree.

"Barry has always run his own business and made his own decisions. However, I feel extremely uncomfortable where, from my perspective, decisions are being taken on contracts without me being consulted as a board member.

"I do wish some of the players would look at these proposals from the business angle and see the bigger picture and the implications going forward for the game, rather than turning everything into some kind of popularity contest between those they like and those they don't want to listen to."

Hearn welcomed Doyle's decision and insisted that all the remaining board members are "totally committed" to the new proposals.

"I welcome Lee's decision to resign as a director of WPBSA," he said.

"As a manager of players and promoter of rival events in important territories like China, Lee's position as a board director, where confidential information becomes available to effectively a competitor, has become untenable.

"He may well be opposed to my plan to reinvigorate snooker for the benefit of all players and I therefore totally understand his reasons for resigning.

"I'm glad to say that the remaining board members, Steve Davis, Brandon Parker and Pat Mooney are, like me, totally committed in supporting these new proposals for taking the game forward and look forward to discussing them with the players at the meeting planned for May 5."