Chairman Steve Brown ends playing career on the ADC Tour due to "potential conflict of interest"

Steve Brown has announced he is to step back from playing on the Amateur Darts Circuit because of a "potential conflict of interest" with him being the chairman of the organisation.

“It was a difficult decision, because all I’ve done since I was 15 is go out and play darts three or four nights a week," the former PDC pro said. " But I feel it’s the right decision in terms of my role within the ADC and moving the game forward."

“When we launched the rebranded ADC, we had no idea where it was going to go or how big it was going to get. It’s only gone in one direction and we can see it getting bigger and bigger over the next few years," Brown continues. “We have created so much opportunity with the ADC that pretty much every event I was playing in was an ADC event."

Brown also draws attention to the fact that it's potentially not a good look for the company chairman to be winning his own events. "As the organisation goes from strength and strength, I can see a potential conflict of interest further down the line if I continue to play. I’m not sure sponsors, for example, will be too happy investing significant money in an organisation where the chairman is regularly winning the competitions," he explains. “Before it gets to that stage, I’ve made the decision to step aside, and I’m now looking forward to the next chapter of my darts journey at board level.”