The best darts player west London has ever known will call it a day unless he can get a sponsor.
World-ranked Jason Clark, aka 'the Cockney Jock', needs around £12,000-a-year-to get him on planes and trains to oches all over the world. And the deal for any would-be backer is they will get half of the £19,000 the Shepherd's
Bush arrows ace estimates would be a conservative pot based on his previous triumphs.
The man that was a couple of throws from upsetting world champion Raymond van Barneveld in the PDC World Championships last Christmas as seen by millions on TV, has still found it tough to mix top-level darts with his job as a floor-layer and supporting his family.
Clark is currently 44th in the world, and this after a three-month lay-off with a damaged shoulder wrongly diagnosed as a chest muscle strain.
Clark plans to return to competitive darts in the Scottish Grand Slam affair tomorrow. But such is the upgrade in darts competitions at the top, the 39-year-old father-of-four faces Professional Darts Competition (PDC) tournaments in the future lasting not just a weekend - but Friday as well.
To get a new 'tour card' for the PDC a player must remain in the top 96 just to gain entry, as well as competing in a certain number of events each year throughout Europe.
Clark was on mainstream TV for more than seven hours last year, so he reckons any would-be guardian angel would hit paydirt for such a minimum outlay.
He said: "I'm only getting better, and the close match against Barney (van Barneveld) was no fluke.
"Naturally, the shirt I wear as well as other promotions in which I'm involved would carry the sponsor's logo or name very prominently asyyou might imagine.
"But as it currently stands, it could be difficult to find that sort of travel money up front."
Clark joined the elite PDC 'nine-dart' club at the beginning of the year after throwing the perfect finish in the German open last December.
He can be contacted at the following: info@dartsinw6.com
