Dennis Priestley wouldn't be surprised if Michael van Gerwen quits darts soon: "If he keeps getting beat"

Dennis Priestley was asked if he thinks Van Gerwen will call it quits within two years and believes that he could do if he would like.

Priestley admitted that Van Gerwen would do so with a full stocked bank balance and that injuries and getting beat would dictate what happens next.

"Yes he could. That's what he'll be looking at if he keeps getting beat and can't put all his injuries to the back of the queue. I think he could retire, but he'll retire with a good bank balance," said Priestley.

The 74-year-old also indicated that Luke Littler has the potential to become the best darter of all time, but Priestley sees one stumbling block for the teenage sensation who already managed to win this year's Premier League Darts.

"The money could stop Luke Littler becoming the greatest ever darts player If Luke Littler gets too comfortable with the money he's got then he may unconsciously ease off and not do what he's been doing to make him the Darts player he is. He's still so young and in any other circumstance, he'd still be in school.

"Adrian Lewis was only a teenager when he came on the scene and James Wade was very young back then. They were both great talents like Littler. You've obviously got young Josh Rock, he could be the next Luke Littler because he has the youth on his side.

"I never thought I'd be calling James Wade a veteran, but he is one. Luke Littler could learn a hell of a lot from James. Wade is a very knowledgeable young fella. It's someone like him who Littler could latch onto and learn a lot from.

Finally, Priestley gave his opinion on the contract talks between PDC president Barry Hearn and Sky Sports. The British sports channel has been a broadcast partner of the PDC for many years, but Hearn would like to see more money before the contract is renewed.

"I have full confidence in what Barry Hearn does. He's letting Sky know that the last contract was good for both sides but darts has moved onto higher things and they need to be paid accordingly.

"Barry has probably got inside information on how much they pay other sports and darts should be the second-best paid sport on TV because that's what the viewing figures suggest.

"Barry is a shrewd operator and I have full confidence in what he will do. When he took over, i know our first contract with Sky was $1million in '94. I'm sure the contract will be more than that now but what it needs to be is something that Barry will sort out.

"Where Barry has the upper hand on virtually every other promoter, he knows what a sport is worth. He's letting Sky know that he's not going to accept the same amount of money that they've been paid over the last three years. He's making the same noises for snooker too and I have confidence in Barry Hearn to get what darts is actually worth. He'll do good.

"I know for a fact that he wants the World Championship's to payout £1million to the winner. He wants that to happen definitely in the next two or three years. To do that, Sky and other broadcasters have got to pay what darts is worth."