Painter on option to continue career with MODUS Super Series after PDC retirement: "The system didn’t suit someone of my age physically or mentally"

Kevin Painter has been playing on both the MODUS Super Series and also the World Seniors over the past year since leaving the PDC and for 'The Artist', it has offered him a career lifeline and more freedom with his love of the game not dying in retirement.

"When I retired, it wasn’t because I didn’t enjoy playing, it was that I was fed up chasing my tour card back. The system didn’t suit someone of my age physically or mentally. I thought I’d play in a few random comps and carry on with exhibitions, but of course playing in the Modus Super Series and the Seniors events has been a good thing and a welcome change to what I’d been used to playing in," said Painter to DartsNews.

"The best thing for me about the MODUS Super Series is playing against mainly players I’m not used to playing against. You play against the same faces week-in week-out on the pro tour and it can get boring. This is a nice change and long may it continue in the same way."

A lot of debate has swelled around whether or not to give the remaining top 128 who do not earn as much the chance to play in these tournaments and Painter said that it would bring more opportunities but that he isn't sure if it would have helped him during his career.

"It’s difficult to say whether it would’ve made an improvement or led to me being a better player if this was around earlier in my career, I was always busy in events from the start but it certainly wouldn’t have done any harm. And it definitely adds an exciting new dimension to the sport, bringing opportunities for players that otherwise wouldn’t be there."

"There’s plenty of players in their 50s still playing well. There’s a few on the pro tour that may join the seniors but I’m sure they would rather keep their tour cards. If they don’t then the MODUS Super Series is an excellent alternative that might help them get them back."

But while his PDC commitments have gone, he admits the chance to see his team Ipswich Town who are towards the top of League One is still as if he is on the ProTour due to exhibitions.

"Ipswich are doing great at the moment, but it’s very early to tell where we will end up. The squad has great depth, if we can avoid injuries to our key players I’m hopeful this will be the season we return to the Championship because this League One is awful!

"Although I have slightly more chances to go to games by not being full time on tour, it’s only marginal as I do plenty of exhibitions at weekends still, but it is nice to get a bit more free time. I never seemed to get a rest when on the pro tour – that’s great for the bank account but not for the body when you’re in your 50s!"