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James Wade doubles down on Premier League pick controversy and calls for rule change
James Wade remains adamant Nathan Aspinall and Chris Dobey did not deserve a spot in the Premier League. Dobey was the sole debutant in this year’s Premier League line-up while Aspinall was one of four wildcards despite suffering an injury-riddled 2024 campaign. Wade has made no secret he felt some players didn’t deserve a Premier League spotGetty Mike De Decker and Dave Chisnall have been especially vocal about Aspinall’s inclusion, with the latter claiming ‘The Asp’ was largely picked because of his energetic walk-on to The Killers’ ‘Mr Brightside’. Wade echoed a similar sentiment without naming anyone directly, stating at this year’s UK Open: “I think two players that got in were probably because they are part of something that’s bigger than darts.” Speaking exclusively on talkSPORT Breakfast, Wade addressed his comments at Minehead and doubled down on his stance, but conceded Aspinall has always performed well when it comes to the Premier League. “It wasn’t a criticism,” Wade said. “It was an opinion. There’s a couple of reasons why one of them got in and that would be Nathan (Aspinall). “Nathan’s never, ever had a bad Premier League. He’s always produced good darts. He’s always been there or thereabouts. I think there’s only one time where he’s not finished inside the top four. “Do I think he should have been in this year? No, I don’t. But I know why they put him in. He’s reliable and he’s good at what he does. The crowd do like him. “I think probably there’s another player that should have gone in his place and the same again for Chris Dobey. I think there could have been other players. “There were other options apart from those two.” Aspinall sits sixth and Dobey seventh out of eight players in the Premier League standings after seven nights of action. Some darts stars, Wade included, felt Aspinall was included largely for his walk-on songGetty After successive quarter-final defeats, Aspinall rebounded with two runners-up finishes as well as a semi-final berth before succumbing to two-straight quarter-final losses on Night Six and Night Seven. However, the 33-year-old is in fine form as he clinched his maiden PDC European title at the European Darts Trophy in Germany last Sunday. ‘The Asp’ prevailed 8-4 over a game Ryan Joyce and fought back tears in his post-match interview having also pocketed a cool £30,000 for winning the tournament. Similar performances from Aspinall over the year would also create an iron-clad claim for him to retain his place in the Premier League, especially if it boosts his standing in the PDC Order of Merit. If that transpires, it means Wade wouldn’t have much of an argument given he believes ‘your rankings should really count’ when it comes to deciding the Premier League line-up. “I think there’s a reason why someone’s ranked inside the top eight or the top ten,” Wade said. talkSPORTWade explained how he believed the Premier League selections should be decided[/caption] “I think rankings should be looked at a little bit more than they are. “It does get looked at as a business because it is. You’ve got other players that aren’t as popular. Let’s put it that way. “Johnny Clayton should have been in it, in my opinion. Is he as popular as Nathan? Probably not. But he’s up there in the rankings. “It’s not criticism, it’s an opinion. We saw it with other players over the years that have been constantly re-invited back to the event. They haven’t even done the business when they’ve been in it and they’re also not doing the business in the other tournaments. “Is that right or is that wrong? I guess from a business point of view, it’s the right decision because they’re there to sell tickets and they’re there to make the PDC money. “But is it on fair merit all the time?” Aspinall and the rest of the Premier League return to action on Thursday night in Newcastle for Night Eight. The 33-year-old faces Michael van Gerwen in the quarter-finals. Both men have one win over the other in this year’s Premier League, with Van Gerwen the most recent victor having won 6-4 on Night Six.
James Wade remains adamant Nathan Aspinall and Chris Dobey did not deserve a spot in the Premier League.
Dobey was the sole debutant in this year’s Premier League line-up while Aspinall was one of four wildcards despite suffering an injury-riddled 2024 campaign.
Mike De Decker and Dave Chisnall have been especially vocal about Aspinall’s inclusion, with the latter claiming ‘The Asp’ was largely picked because of his energetic walk-on to The Killers’ ‘Mr Brightside’.
Wade echoed a similar sentiment without naming anyone directly, stating at this year’s UK Open: “I think two players that got in were probably because they are part of something that’s bigger than darts.”
Speaking exclusively on talkSPORT Breakfast, Wade addressed his comments at Minehead and doubled down on his stance, but conceded Aspinall has always performed well when it comes to the Premier League.
“It wasn’t a criticism,” Wade said.
“It was an opinion. There’s a couple of reasons why one of them got in and that would be Nathan (Aspinall).
“Nathan’s never, ever had a bad Premier League. He’s always produced good darts. He’s always been there or thereabouts. I think there’s only one time where he’s not finished inside the top four.
“Do I think he should have been in this year? No, I don’t. But I know why they put him in. He’s reliable and he’s good at what he does. The crowd do like him.
“I think probably there’s another player that should have gone in his place and the same again for Chris Dobey. I think there could have been other players.
“There were other options apart from those two.”
Aspinall sits sixth and Dobey seventh out of eight players in the Premier League standings after seven nights of action.
After successive quarter-final defeats, Aspinall rebounded with two runners-up finishes as well as a semi-final berth before succumbing to two-straight quarter-final losses on Night Six and Night Seven.
However, the 33-year-old is in fine form as he clinched his maiden PDC European title at the European Darts Trophy in Germany last Sunday.
‘The Asp’ prevailed 8-4 over a game Ryan Joyce and fought back tears in his post-match interview having also pocketed a cool £30,000 for winning the tournament.
Similar performances from Aspinall over the year would also create an iron-clad claim for him to retain his place in the Premier League, especially if it boosts his standing in the PDC Order of Merit.
If that transpires, it means Wade wouldn’t have much of an argument given he believes ‘your rankings should really count’ when it comes to deciding the Premier League line-up.
“I think there’s a reason why someone’s ranked inside the top eight or the top ten,” Wade said.
“I think rankings should be looked at a little bit more than they are.
“It does get looked at as a business because it is. You’ve got other players that aren’t as popular. Let’s put it that way.
“Johnny Clayton should have been in it, in my opinion. Is he as popular as Nathan? Probably not. But he’s up there in the rankings.
“It’s not criticism, it’s an opinion. We saw it with other players over the years that have been constantly re-invited back to the event. They haven’t even done the business when they’ve been in it and they’re also not doing the business in the other tournaments.
“Is that right or is that wrong? I guess from a business point of view, it’s the right decision because they’re there to sell tickets and they’re there to make the PDC money.
“But is it on fair merit all the time?”
Aspinall and the rest of the Premier League return to action on Thursday night in Newcastle for Night Eight.
The 33-year-old faces Michael van Gerwen in the quarter-finals.
Both men have one win over the other in this year’s Premier League, with Van Gerwen the most recent victor having won 6-4 on Night Six.
