Thank you...

The final words that I will write regarding the drama around GB9...
After this it's a clean slate and done...

I knew this weekend was going to be hard. Saying goodbye to something I have worked so hard for in the past few years. Saying goodbye to some lovely people. I also knew I'f be really happy so never see some people again after this weekend. ;-)

About running a professional tour:
My guidelines always have been;
Be fair to all, not just some people that you like...
Follow the rules, all the time...
Be open and willing to listen...
Be strict or they'll walk over you...
Give it all you've got....
Just be there in general cause the players will appreciate it...

I've got other little things I do but not giving away all my secrets off course!

The GB9 has lost a lot of little things... But they have also lost me and with that they lost a lot of heart and respect. The display this weekend was a perfect example...
I think I've said enough in my previous post about not following the tournament rules. If you want to run a professional tour, you have to follow your own tournament rules that you have set up yourself.

Funniest things I have seen this weekend. (Without mentioning names off course!)

- 2 guys practising on the "TV" (Cuesport TV wasn't even there) table for about 15 minutes, TD walking past about 3 times and no word. Someone gets called out to play on that table by the TD. That players gets to the table, practises 3 shots and gets told of by the TD for practising.

- 2 guys playing each other, you can see from the looks in the small audience that is watching that they can't believe what is happening.. I start watching and can see that this is going wrong...
1 player goes for his 2nd or 3rd time out. This should be at least 1 rack to the opponent. Player comes back eventually wins and I hear snippets of the conversation at the end: Player 1: I don't know what.... But I have a lost a lot of respect for you... Thought better of you... Player 2: .... Yeah but you have shit friends.... OMG...

- Player 1 wins a hill-hill match, Player 2 is a bit upset... Grabs a ball, smashes it on the table, ball flies up, player catches ball and walks away. TD comes storming over and tells Player 1 off. Players 1 denies doing it and TD doesn't believe him at first and still gives him a telling off. Eventually TD goes to Player 2 to tell him off but has lost all credibility...

- I get some stuff I forgot in Barnsley including my wonderful GB9 Tournament Director Shirt.. I don't need it anymore and the TD comes over to give it again after I decided to leave it behind. TD then says in front of some friends: yeah but I'm not a bin... LOL no comment...

- A GB9 title used to mean a lot, especially a main event one... Not seen a final being split ever... Seen that they made deals but at least they played it... No final in this main event.....

- Funniest thing was my presentation or my good sending off.... There wasn't any.... A professional tour should always respect the work people have done for them. By not giving me a way to say bye to everyone in a public way they have lost all my respect. I can now say whatever I want!

I have been told by people that they have been told by a certain someone that I didn't do Barnsley or am not going to do 2010 because I am too busy for it with work.
Partially true..
As everyone now knows.. I live in London and have started a new job I love. I wasn't sure about next year yet.. Been doubting that for a while.
After hearing my mother is terminally ill and only has a few months left and me catching the swine flu... I was really sick of a certain someone calling, texting and emailing me all the time. I could not handle it all anymore and decided to quit there and then.
Another person then convinced me to stay till at least the end of the year. Needed a few days to think about it and then decided it would be better to do it that way.
But after Solihull I got told that I'm not needed anymore.
Me quitting before Solihull was the final drop the drama needed...
Best excuse to get rid of me.
That's the story.
Now they needed to find a way to bring this to the players in a way it would make the tour look good and stable.
Press release, they gave me to options if I would agree to the press release, I refused and told them to F*** off.
They then decided not mention anything in the press release so there wouldn't be anything to fight... But they're not stupid, just tell everyone in person that I decided to quit because of work. They'll assume they are telling the truth... Not many people will mention it to Shirley...
WRONG!!!

I've found out that he's the liar and is manipulative, saying those things about me on FB is one thing but telling people that all weekend makes him even worse. Any respect I've ever had is gone. He has a way of talking to people like he's better than anyone, everything he says is right. He does not like it if you do not agree with him. He'll not tell you that in your face but behind your back, he'll call you a tw*t, d*ck or just a plain idiot... But when he faces you he'll be the two-faced bitch he really is. Don't ever trust him because when he can stab you in the back he will...

OK this is my line... I have had enough...

Clean slate!!!

I just want to thank a lot of people for their kind words this weekend and in general for the past 2 years:
Chun and Phuong for their card and present and I will miss you guys cause you were always there to offer me some food and just general company! Love you guys...
Ginn, Nicholson and Overton for their company at the event, the clubs, the hotel and in the car...
Georgie for just being himself this weekend, I've missed it....
Cummins for his funny comments about the tour this weekend...
Cripps, Clemens and Hersey for the drinking... Hersey, thanks for the £125 the hotel charged me extra! Answer your phone!!!!
Tink and Appleton for telling me the truth....
Triggs for seeing one of the worst things ever in my life... Wish I never opened that door in the hotel!
Weafer, Moore, Simpson, Hinrichs, McCarthy on our way to a bright future....
Mr and Mrs Chapman, love you both but I love the Mrs more! ;-)
Mr Morgan, thank you for the cue maintenance at every event...
Nelly for making me laugh...
Moore, Widlo, Kay, Ginn, Lawrenson, Burton, Hinrichs, and anyone else that smokes, thanks for keeing me company outside whilst smoking...
Dixon, thank you for hopefully not seeing you again for a long time!!!
Damian, good luck in Kenya!
Looking forward to the Reading drinks...

Finally:
A thank you to all the players for supporting me at the start of the tour and at the end of the tour. I will miss you!

See you all soon! X