As the one-year anniversary of Jonny Clayton leaving his job as a Carmarthenshire Council plasterer nears, the Ferret has spoken to Weekly Dartscast and expressed his belief that he made the right decision.
"The last year I was often on unpaid leave," says Clayton. "So basically I wasn't in at all for that twelve months and I had the choice of either staying with the council or trying to progress with my darts. Obviously, darts came first," continues the Welshman.
"It was difficult to say goodbye, I'd been there twenty-seven years," Clayton admits. "I do miss the banter with all the lads, I don't see as many faces as what I did knocking on doors and doing jobs for people. It's weird, it's a 100mph lifestyle in work then all of a sudden it's nothing. Just looking at the M4 every week."
Clayton has seen something of a resurgence in his form in recent weeks. After a slow start to 2023, the Ferret has come to life in recent weeks taking back-to-back night wins in the Premier League. "I think I've done the right decision," Clayton reassures. "I'm still a lazy practiser and I think that shows with some of my results but I am back on the board. I have to. It doesn't work if I'm not."