"I wasn't good enough, not because I didn't get on with Peter Manley": Glen Durrant resigns from PDPA role amid frustrations but refuses to blame others

According to former professional player and current commentator Glen Durrant, the world of darts is experiencing one of the most fascinating periods in the sport's modern history.

With the emergence of Luke Littler and the continued dominance of Luke Humphries, the Englishman describes the current era as a brilliant, but also slightly dizzying evolution of professional darts. Durrant also reflected on his recent departure from the Professional Darts Players Association.

Durrant believes Luke Humphries is currently the most complete player in the world. For Durrant, Humphries' development highlights the importance of the mental side of elite darts. He believes it was crucial that Humphries finally managed to beat Luke Littler in a major final after losing several deciding-leg encounters.

"Luke Humphries right now looks to be the best player in the world. He'll have been disappointed not to win the Premier League, but from the guy who was trialling different throws and slowing everything down, to see him playing like he is now," he said to Online Darts.

"For me, he goes into the World Matchplay as favourite. He's fit, he's hungry and he wants to win titles again."

"We talk about mentality and just getting that win. Winning in New York is big. They're not going over there for an exhibition, they want to win.

"I wax lyrical about Luke Littler because I think he's something I've probably never seen before in the flesh.

"Don't forget, I didn't really see Phil Taylor at his best apart from on TV. During Michael van Gerwen's dominant era I was still in the BDO. To watch what Luke Littler is doing right now is sensational. But we need someone to challenge him and, right now, that seems to be Luke Humphries."

According to Durrant, the rivalry between Littler and Humphries is exactly what the sport needs.

"We are so blessed. I'm grassroots now. I do a lot of coaching. Whether it's academy volunteers or youngsters inspired by Luke Littler, those two are making a massive difference—not just to the professional game but to grassroots darts.

"You go to the academies and they're bursting. Why? Because of what's happening in the game right now. Luke Littler and Luke Humphries are demonstrating everything we need to showcase our sport."

Durrant believes darts has now become a truly global sport, driven largely by commercial expansion and international broadcasting deals. He pointed to the sport's growing presence in the United States and its partnership with major broadcasters.

"People ask if I wish I'd played in this era. Of course I do! But we're just enjoying it while we can. There were over 5,000 people in New York and it's only going to get bigger.

"It's growing because we've got fantastic players. It's an entertainment business as well and we're doing that fantastically well. The two Lukes are certainly playing their part."

According to Durrant, modern darts has evolved into a hybrid of sport and entertainment. "I was Mr Mesmeric. I was Mr Robotic! You don't think about entertaining when you're playing.

"But Luke Littler is having fun up there. The crowd interaction, the reactions—it's great to see. It's difficult in the moment trying to think I want to win the game as well, but they're letting the darts do the talking. Staggering averages. Massive finishes."

With the World Matchplay approaching, Durrant sees a clear shift in the sport's hierarchy. Established names such as Peter Wright, Raymond van Barneveld, Michael Smith and Dave Chisnall are increasingly finding themselves outside the biggest tournaments, while emerging players such as Wessel Nijman continue to rise.

"You asked me at Ally Pally if there was someone coming through and I said Wessel Nijman. If he can transfer his floor form to the stage, he's magnificent.

"To see Dave Chisnall, Michael Smith and Peter Wright (potentially not there)... I don't get any satisfaction about them not being there. But the players coming through. Players like Cameron Menzies."

"There does seem to be that gap around the qualification places now. We'll all be watching. There are so many young players coming through."

Michael Smith is unlikely to qualify even if he wins both ProTours this week and Durrant say it's staggering but it also shows the place darts is in right now.

"I was looking at Michael Smith because I think when he's winning, the game's in a better place. Unless I've got my numbers wrong, even if he won both ProTours, he still doesn't qualify. That's staggering.

"The cream will always rise to the top, but every year we say the World Matchplay is the best 32 players it's ever been."

But he also spoke on Raymond van Barneveld and Peter Wright with no expectation from Durrant that either will recount their highest heights ever again.

"Barney's legacy is there. He's still extremely busy on the exhibition circuit and we've had that retirement from him already. Peter is a different animal. From the guy who changes darts every time to the guy who still says he can win the World Championship.

"Remember when I played, I was down and out. The reality is there though. Every time Peter plays a ProTour I'm looking at his averages. It's not easy. When you're in your 50s your body changes. It's hard. I don't expect Barney or Peter Wright to get back to the upper echelons of darts."

One of the major discussion points was the increasingly crowded darts calendar. More players are choosing to skip Pro Tour and European Tour events, something Durrant admits worries him.

"Surprised? No. But the game needs them to be on the Euro Tour. If you're going to Leverkusen next week you want to see Littler, Humphries and Price.

"But just the way the diary is right now, a lot of the players are realising that they've got the opportunity not to go to these competitions and that's got to be corrected somehow. I know what it's like being away for four days. Chris Dobey showed me his diary for July, August and September and it's staggering. You're barely at home. Players are choosing not to go away, there needs to be a solution."

Perhaps the most revealing part of the interview came when Durrant discussed his departure from the Professional Darts Players Association, confirming he had stepped down as a director.

"I'll give you the scoop. I put my resignation into the PDPA on Monday. No big thing. I left on good terms. It was my decision.

"I have a wonderful relationship with every director and with Nicola as well. They're a fabulous team. But I won't be doing PDPA anymore going forward.

He cited both workload and communication issues within the professional game. Durrant was refreshingly honest about his reasons.

"Not enough. I designed a booklet that I was really proud of. It took me 20, 40, 60 hours. We put it on all 128 tables at the first ProTour. At the end of the day I collected 78 of them back in. I've tried to speak to as many players as possible but, for every player I've helped, there are others asking me, "Are you still on the PDPA, Glen?"

"Well, they should know that. That's down to me. Alan is a great leader. Andy Scott lives and breathes the game. Jamie Caven will take on the mantle in years to come, Jacques (Nieuwlaat) great respect."

"Something had to give. People will think I've packed in because of this or that. It has nothing to do with the directors. I simply couldn't keep up with the workload. My diary is disgusting. Whenever there was a PDPA meeting I found myself looking at the clock and that's not right. I know what doing a good job looks like because I worked in a profession for over 30 years. I'm disappointed I couldn't give the role what it deserved, but I'll never say slag off the PDPA."

Durrant didn't mention Peter Manley and he said that while they did clash that he gave up the role simply as he thought he wasn't good enough and not due to any party. "We're similar. We wind each other up. We give and we take.

"He's not the easiest person to work with, but I have a lot of respect for Peter Manley, more respect than people would think.

"People will think it's an easy answer that I'm not getting on with a member of the PDPA. That's not the case. They work a lot harder than I did as a PDPA director. But there was times, certainly I had a lot of frustrations.

"There were negatives, but the positives outweigh the negatives. The reason I'm leaving is because I wasn't good enough, not because I didn't get on with Peter Manley. We're very, very similar. I'm leaving because I wasn't good enough."

But he is not fully closing the door on potential future work with the PDPA and said that he would go back if given the chance.

"I would. I would go back. You never say no. And as the director said, what if everything ended tomorrow? What if Sky said, Glen, you've been a great commentator, but we don't want you no more. ITV said to me, thanks for the two competitions you did in 2026, but we won't be looking at you in 2027.

"You know, I've got an office now. You know, the coaching's going great. What happens if the bubble bursts in 2027? Nobody wants to come to it.

"I wasn't satisfied myself with what I was doing. When I was hearing, are you still on the PDPA? That hurt, you know, because they should know I am. I should be out there saying, look, if you've got a problem, come and talk to me. Would I go back? Yeah, Possibly, but things would have to change."