World Darts Championship star Chris Dobey wants to see the sport go after someone like his childhood hero Alan Shearer to bring a no-nonsense approach to their coverage.
Dobey is looking to make a deep run at this year's World Darts Championship and is one of the favourites as the No 17 seed.
He won the Masters earlier in the year and gets his tournament up and running this evening against William O'Connor.
Dobey has had a mixed year since the triumph in January, including a shock win over world champion Michael Smith at the World Matchplay.
Alan Shearer features on the BBC football coverage alongside Gary Lineker
PA
He's faced some criticism too with Dobey admitting his mum and dad are his worst critics.
But the reigning Masters champion appreciates being told some hard truths and would like to see someone like Shearer working in darts to do something similar.
Dobey said: “To get that message when I won that first title was unbelievable, especially being a massive Newcastle fan.
“At first I couldn’t really grasp it. You think, 'Has that actually happened? Did I really get a text off alan Shearer?'
"I had to check my phone the following day just to see if it was real.
“I bumped into Alan at a match a few weeks after that. I got a picture with him and my little boy Cole and he was sound.
"Cole was looking up to him and Shearer said, 'You won’t know who I am. I’m just the grumpy one on Match of the Day' which was quite funny.
“Shearer's a decent pundit on the box, and we need more football-style punditry in darts to tell it how it is.
“We are all friends, but if you have a bad game you want someone to tell you the truth. Just tell you how it is. After every game I lose, my mum or dad are on the phone saying, 'You were rubbish'.
Chris Dobey wants more critical pundits in darts
PA
"That's the way you want to hear it. There are a few players who are weak and they can't handle the truth.
"But it might make them stronger if we do get people saying what they want.”
O'Connor will be the underdog when he faces Dobey tonight, but he's hoping his first-round win can give him some confidence heading into the match this evening.
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Limerick's Willie O'Connor was given the opportunity to talk some smack to Chris Dobey, his next opponent at the World Darts Championships.
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) December 20, 2023
His response was priceless😅pic.twitter.com/Whsj5WJiAk
"I know Chris and I know what he's capable of," he said.
"I'm expecting him to play very very well and I will be ready for that.
"I hope I can either replicate this performance or do a little bit better. I know what I can do, so I just got to do it."
