The Team Unicorn Global star has revealed that he “was left with little choice” and puts the surprise move down to “financial reasons”.
“It has been a really tough decision for me,” he admitted. “I simply can’t afford to stay in the PDC without sponsorship, which would enable me to play the whole circuit.”
He added: “There seems little point in just playing the odd tournament here and there. I was planning to play the final four UK Open Regional events to earn a place at the finals at Bolton in June but with membership of the PDPA costing Ј200 and a Ј65 entry fee to each tournament, it just doesn’t make economical sense to me.”
Green has appeared in most of the big PDC ‘Majors’ and in 2006, he reached the quarter-finals of the UK Open at The Reebok but that’s where his troubles began.
After the tournament, a random drugs test landed him in hot water with the Darts Regulation Authority. He tested positive for a banned substance and was fined Ј3,000, as well as being forced to return his Ј4,000 prize money.
“I know it was all my fault,” Green said. “But having to give the money back and pay the fine just wiped me out.”
Green paid tribute to Unicorn for standing by him in what has been a tough period. “I never meant to let anyone down,” he said. “I just hope people understand my reasons and I just want to get on and play darts.”
It looks like his first tournament back in the BDO will be next month’s Scotland Open in Glasgow. Green is aiming to qualify for the World Masters and the Lakeside World Championship.
“It is simply down to money,” he said. “I will back my ability. If I can beat the best in the PDC, I am sure that I can beat the best in the BDO.”
BY STUART PYKE
Photo courtesy of Lawrence Lustig / PDC
