Harrington on Barney: "There is nothing in his game that suggests he can get it back"
Friday 5 April 2019 13:45, UK
Rod Harrington has been scathing of Raymond van Barneveld's decision to reconsider his retirement from darts after he finished bottom of the Premier League.
The Dutch legend announced that he would stop playing with immediate effect after back-to-back Premier League Darts defeats in Rotterdam last Thursday left him bottom of the table and relegated from the next phase of the competition.
But the 51-year-old made a dramatic U-turn the following day after admitting that he had made a rash decision "in the heat of the moment."
Speaking to host Dave Clark, Harrington was critical of Van Barneveld and felt he should have stayed in retirement rather than reversing his decision.
What I hate to see Barney do is to play the rest of the year and still get beaten easily - that won't look good
"I personally think he should have stuck with his decision," Harrington told Sky Sports. "There is nothing in his game that suggests he can get it back.
"We have seen Daryl Gurney go through a bad spell and come out of it but there has been no grit and determination that you need on the big stage.
"What I hate to see Barney do is to play the rest of the year and still get beaten easily - that won't look good.
"I think he should have gone on the exhibition circuit with Phil Taylor and he would make a lot of money and still entertain a lot of people, but I worry that he's going to come and get beaten up."
The Premier League continues as we head to the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool on Thursday, April 11. You can also stay up to date with all the action by following us @SkySportsDarts and get all the latest news, previews and interviews www.skysports.com/darts
