Clark insists stepping away from Sky Sports Darts coverage was 'right decision'

It will be a very different PDC World Darts Championship for many reasons this year and like most of this year's major tournaments, this is due to Dave Clark not fronting the coverage on Sky Sports.

Clark looked back on the decision and insists that it was the right one and especially with COVID happening, he was glad to go out the way he did.

"It was getting harder to broadcast and stay hiding my symptoms," he told Sky Sports. "At the World Championships last year, on a couple of occasions I had to jab my hand down the side of the seat to stop myself shaking and sometimes the make-up lady would have to do the buttons up on the shirt. There were times I couldn't write the scores down with my right hand so I taught myself to write left-handed.

"Then Covid struck and I thought, my time's limited so do I want to do darts in front of an empty hall? Not really. Do I want to get swab tested every other day? Not really. Was it the darts I (once) knew? Not really. So, the time was right and sort of worlds collided and everything seemed right to hand it on. I don't regret that decision. I'll miss it at Christmas but it was the right decision at the right time.

"I spoke to Rory Hopkins (darts producer) and I spoke to my family as well. I spoke to a few people and decided that I was going to make the announcement on my own terms with that tweet I sent out and it was a perfect way to do it.

"The response I got was incredible. I got 5,000 messages from people, amazing! I didn't realise the impact I had on people who have chronic illnesses and Parkinson's and how they thought of what I've done, especially managing nearly 10 years of live sport. I was inspiring a lot of people to carry on and keep fighting. The messages I've had, particularly from people with Parkinson's really affected me, but made me feel good."

Emma Paton has since taken over the role after initially Nigel Pearson took the reigns and Clark believes they have found a very good replacement.

"It wasn't going to be easy getting someone to take over the darts because I've done it for 20 years, but they're doing a great job. Missing Rod Studd's commentary, but he'll be back in the near future. A great little team and I wish them the best of luck for the World Championship. It's a hell of a slog, 28 sessions of darts. Look after yourself, keep fit and you'll be fine.

"Emma Paton is really good. She obviously knows her sport. She's enthusiastic and she's doing a great job. It's a long learning process but she'll be great."