PDPA Chairman speaks out against managers in darts: 'That's where the money's going... Why give 40 or 50 percent away?'

Former PDC World Darts Championship finalist Peter Manley has voiced concern over the growing number of darts players using managers, despite the sport offering more opportunities than ever before.

Manley, a one-time PDC major winner and three-time World Championship finalist, now serves as chairman of the PDPA (Professional Darts Players Association). While he welcomes recent developments in the game, he sees worrying trends emerging among up-and-coming players.

The PDC recently announced a significant increase in prize money across almost all of its events — a move widely praised by players. From now on, anyone reaching the second round of a Players Championship event will earn a minimum of €1,250, up from €1,000. However, not everyone is satisfied. Some players argue that prize money should be awarded from the first round to help cover basic travel costs.

"I mean, we all moan but it’s totally unnecessary a lot of it," Manley responded to criticism from some top pros in conversation with Online Darts. "But we deal with them in the best way we can, and we try."

The PDC recently announced a significant increase in prize money across almost all of its events — a move widely praised by players. From now on, anyone reaching the second round of a Players Championship event will earn a minimum of £1,250, up from £1,000. However, not everyone is satisfied. Some players argue that prize money should be awarded from the first round to help cover basic travel costs.

"What they don't reason with, is that they all say: let's make £1,000 (for first round winners) and £250 (for first round losers). But why?" Manley asks. "Does that mean that you won't give your manager 30, 40, 50 percent? Because that's where the money's going. In my day there were no managers. We didn't have a manager."

Manley acknowledges that the top 16 in the world benefit from having someone to handle the logistics so they can focus on performing. But he believes too many lower-ranked players are jumping on the manager bandwagon without real need.

"I understand if you're in the top 8 or the top 16, life changes and it does become a bit overwhelming," he concludes. "But some of these guys just think they have to have a manager because his mate has a manager. I would advise young players to just see how they get on... Why give 40 or 50 percent away?"