So, with (at least) two of these organisations now closer than ever together than they have been in many years, is it now at a point where an integration/transition scenario can be modelled.

For me, as Barry Hearn mentioned on his interview a few days ago, the BDO need to accept that they need to do what they do best - support the grassroots amateur game and allow the PDC to cater for the professionals. For those who rejected Hearn's advances some years ago, circumstances have changed. There is no point sugercoating things; the organisation faces bankruptcy if drastic changes aren't made fast.

The two organisations cannot be offering the same thing - as a result I can see tears and tantrums, but for the good of the sport the following should be made:
-Cessation of the Lakeside Championship, World Masters (incorporated into the existing Masters event) and World Trophy.
-Cessation of 'international darts' bar a pairs World Cup.
-Incorporation of all national organisations under the PDC umbrella, but still encouraged to run local/regional open events.
-The WDF (and BDO) conceding all governance control to PDF operations.
-Cessation of events outside of singles and a select number of women's events.
-County darts maintained but regionalised, with a finals weekend for the top 4 counties at the end of the season.

In terms of a tour, there a number of ways that the two organisations could be incorporated:
-Maintaining the PDC "premier" and World Series events in their entirety and continue to expand globally.
-Retention of the Pro Tour and European Tour events and expanded exponentially.
-Offer a genuine pathway from 'the bedroom to the Alexandra Palace', incorporating Super League and then feeding County darts, as well as offering free Q School places from the best performing players in each county. A greater emphasis on local opens.
-WDF ranked tournaments maintained to a large extent, but incorporated into the pre-existing affiliate tour and Challenge Tour structure which would be massively expanded.
-Offer a reduced, but more lucrative women's tour of perhaps 12-16 events including their own World Championship and a couple of other major events.
-Offer tour cards from outside the current framework - i.e. women's world champion, best regional players etc.

Would this work as a blueprint?

Cessation of the Lakeside Championship, World Masters (incorporated into the existing Masters event) and World Trophy.

Noone will miss the World Trophy. The World Masters should go back to more of its original inception of being a County Darts championship & Lakeside should really become the Challenge / Development Tour 'World' Championship but also open to anyone to enter the qualifiers and have the BDO Holiday Camp Opens involved in the qualifying.

Cessation of 'international darts' bar a pairs World Cup.

Exactly

Incorporation of all national organisations under the PDC umbrella, but still encouraged to run local/regional open events.

Not really any need for this the PDC , as Barry Hearn , stated don't want to become encumbered by the control and organisation of the mass amateur game.

The WDF (and BDO) conceding all governance control to PDF operations.

Again this would render the need for Counties to exist in the UK and there is no way this is going to happen. Nor is the PDC going to spend 100s of man hours trying to organise the BICC and all the various members on their day to day running.

Cessation of events outside of singles and a select number of women's events.

No there is still a need for the Holiday Camp mass opens lots of people enjoy them who go along who have zero intention of ever being a professional darts player. They just need promoting and making more attractive as full proper opens. Look how many people enter the UK Open for example to try and qualify to play in a big mass tournament.

County darts maintained but regionalised, with a finals weekend for the top 4 counties at the end of the season.

PDC just haven't the desire or need to be involved in general running of the BICC. Of course the BICC needs overhauling as a competition and this is where the PDC obviously has great expertise that could help but can you really see Matt Porter concerning himself about the stage set up of say the Isle Of Wight ?

I’m talking about County darts on a far smaller and efficient scale. Ie no need for stage play. Just there as a pathway for bigger and better things.

Dannyboy wrote:I’m talking about County darts on a far smaller and efficient scale. Ie no need for stage play. Just there as a pathway for bigger and better things.

I agree it should be more as a kind of Super Super League and end all this A & B team nonsense. No Team wins the FA Premier League with the help of the results of their reserve team so why can you in darts ?

The problem isn't coming up with a credible workable alternative or list of improvements the problem is how to get the Counties to agree to it and personally I am sure the majority of county delegates are so stuck in their ways even if the BDO and BICC ceased to exist they would still carry on doing as they do now.

Good point about a and b teams. What's all that about when you actually sit back and think about it?

devosteve wrote:Good point about a and b teams. What's all that about when you actually sit back and think about it?

I am sure to ensure that every county had a full coach from back in the day before people made their own way to and from the venues

Just crazy how it is all decided overall and your whole season could depend on the strength of a ladies B team. I have always thought that there should have been some rule that anyone who won 2 games in a row in consecutive County games in the B team should have to play in the A Team next door to avoid a county being able to gather 12 decent Ladies for example and effectively start off most games with a more or less guaranteed 8 point advantage.

Back to the integration point if the BDO take on a proper working relationship with the PDC I guess it would also mean that BDO events cease to be shown on TV as I presume from Barry's comments its commercially advantageous for the premium product to only be seen on TV.

Let's hope the BDO don't sell out to Hearn for a crafty backhander that benefits just a few......

Paddy McGinty wrote:Let's hope the BDO don't sell out to Hearn for a crafty backhander that benefits just a few......

You tell em Pads, who needs healthy prize funds and TV coverage.

Would the rank and file agree to the end of internationals and those all important caps? Mitchell would have nothing to brag about!