2 weeks ago
Former Crucible champion Shaun Murphy believes immoderate subordinate who joins a imaginable breakaway circuit should not beryllium allowed to play successful snooker's biggest events - including nan World Championship.
On Saturday, 2019 victor Judd Trump revealed he had rejected an attack to subordinate a imaginable caller circuit and said he was "not willing 1 bit" in leaving nan existing World Snooker Tour (WST).
Murphy, who won nan sport's biggest prize successful 2005, said: "The players are talking astir it. I've not been approached by anybody, I don't cognize thing astir it and cipher has rung me. I've sewage nary liking successful it.
"I'm led to judge immoderate players person signed NDAs (non-disclosure agreements). I heard my sanction mentioned pinch group saying I've signed an NDA but I haven't. I will decorativeness this play and will look to return to nan circuit adjacent season."
Trump, 34, said he had been contacted a fewer months agone but told imaginable investors to "go away", adding he was "very happy wherever I am" and preferred nan "history and heritage" of nan WST.
"I was pleased to spot Judd nail his colours to nan mast," said 41-year-old Murphy, who lost 13-9 to Scotland’s Stephen Maguire successful nan past 16 connected Sunday.
"I've seen comments from players saying they person to make choices for their families. These players person taken and taken from nan athletics and they want to return moreover much and bully luck to them.
"It's a shame they've not considered putting a spot much backmost into a circuit that's fixed them truthful overmuch earlier they tally away."
Murphy, a non-executive subordinate head connected nan World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA), called nan existent speculation "rumours and hearsay".
However, he believes if a breakaway circuit does return disconnected past players should person a prime of playing location aliases connected nan WST - but not both.
Murphy added: "They tin play connected nan WST successful awesome Triple Crown [World Championship, Masters and UK Championship] events pinch nan history and prestige that Judd talks astir aliases they tin play connected a caller circuit pinch an chartless backer and group we don’t know.
"How agelong will this cookware of money past for? It's a lawsuit of beryllium observant what you wish for.
"I wouldn't for illustration a business wherever players tin spell disconnected and past travel backmost to nan Triple Crown events. I don't deliberation that should happen. You instrumentality your emblem successful nan crushed and state your loyalty somewhere."
Seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan, 48, has said he is unfastened to immoderate proposition and urged players to do what was champion for them.
"There's talk location mightiness beryllium different tour," he said. "Every subordinate has nan correct to do what they want. If I didn't get what I want, americium I prepared to locomotion distant from nan sport? The reply is yes.
"I want to beryllium looked after, want to beryllium pampered. Anyone who wants to pamper maine and look aft me, I'm your man.”
After his triumph complete Murphy, 43-year-old Maguire besides said he would see immoderate offers, though he had not received immoderate yet.
"I’m only proceeding it from different players and I deliberation it's bully if personification other is interested," said nan Scot.
"Some of nan numbers that are getting thrown around, it's interesting. My ears are ever open, I'm ever listening, ever looking. I've not been approached but my doorway is ever open."
Only nan apical 16 players suffice automatically for definite WST events and two-time World Championship semi-finalist Maguire, classed 28th, has not hidden his dislike of qualifying events - which are often untelevised pinch mini crowds.
"If there’s different opportunity that does not mean Barnsley aliases Leicester I would earnestly deliberation astir it. If location was a fewer years' guarantee, why not?" he said.
"Something is happening successful nan background. I'm not connected societal media truthful don't really perceive things, unless group opportunity 'Stevie, this is what's happening'. I'm looking and listening. My telephone is ever on."
