"I worked for 17 years in the PDC and I never let them down so for it to happen like that..." - Paul Hinks 'hurt' by badly handled PDC exit

Paul Hinks had to bid an unexpected farewell to the PDC in 2022. The largest association in the world of darts decided his services were no longer required.

Hinks got to lead the World Championship final between Gerwyn Price and Gary Anderson in early January 2022, which later turned out to be his last appearance at a World Darts Championship. "But the last two days with the PDC was at the UK Open," Hinks recalls. "As an official, you usually get an email with a 12-month rota on what you're doing for the year. It got to July and I'd not heard from anybody."

"Then in September, I got a call. They were saying they'd sent me an email after the UK Open explaining that they were dropping me down and moving Huw Ware up to work alongside George Noble and Kirk Bevins," he continues. "I checked my email, my junk and my spam and I'd received no email at all so I replied back saying 'This is the first I've heard of it but if that's your plans there's nothing I can do about it.' I've not anything from anybody since that day."

"I worked for 17 years in the PDC. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I never let them down and for it to happen like that..." Hinks trails off. "But to not get a thank you, that really hurt."

Hinks has kept himself busy since, however, reffing regularly on the MODUS Super Series and the World Seniors Darts Tour.