Nathan Aspinall responds to Mike De Decker's stinging Premier League attack

Yesterday at 02:43 AM

Nathan Aspinall has told Mike De Decker to keep climbing the rankings if he wants to be in the Premier League after stinging criticism of the Asp’s inclusion in the tournament.

There was much debate over the Premier League line-up this year, with a number of contenders for the four wildcard spots.

De Decker was certainly one of them after his shock win at the World Grand Prix last year, catapulting him into the discussion from obscurity.

However, the Belgian did not get the nod, with Stephen Bunting, Gerwyn Price, Chris Dobey and Aspinall picked alongside Luke Humphries, Luke Littler, Michael van Gerwen and Rob Cross.

The Real Deal was not happy, slamming the decision and picking out Price and Aspinall as undeserving of their spots after underwhelming years on tour which didn’t yield a success anything like his Grand Prix triumph.

He also suggested that Aspinall was only included thanks to his crowd-pleasing walk-on to The Killers’ Mr Brightside.

‘My first feeling immediately after the announcement was one of disbelief,” said De Decker told Het Nieuwsblad. ‘The past 20 years, the Grand Prix winner was there every time.

‘Of course, I can’t change anything about it, the PDC is boss. But I think their decision, to be honest, is a bit scandalous.

‘They did not deserve it. Suddenly they reach a quarter-final at the World Championships and they are there.

‘After my Grand Prix victory, I said that I might not be ready, and I don’t regret that. But afterwards, I confirmed at other tournaments that I can compete with the world’s best.

‘They say that you get into the Premier League based on results, but apparently that is not the case.

‘Aspinall is there with his walk-on purely for the entertainment and if Price performs badly in the first few weeks, he will start complaining again.’

Presented with De Decker’s comments, Aspinall was shocked and disappointed but told the world number 24 he has to do more to climb the rankings and force his way in.

‘Is that what he’s said?’ a surprised Aspinall asked Metro. ‘I haven’t seen it because I’ve come off social media, I still have my accounts there but I’m not on it because the abuse was getting ridiculous.

‘I’m disappointed he’s said that because I get on with Mike, but if he wants to be in then get higher up the rankings.

‘He can count himself unlucky because he’s won a big major, but he’s ranked 24 in the world and went out early in the Worlds.

‘There were a lot of people in contention but no one really stood out. I thought I was 50-50 to get in. I’m buzzing to be the one to get the call and looking forward to get going.’

The World Championship certainly has a big impact on Premier League picks and while Aspinall and Price had forgettable years, they both made it to the quarter-finals at Alexandra Palace, while De Decker lost his opening game to Luke Woodhouse.

Aspinall was pleased with his run to the last eight, which was ended by Luke Littler, although he felt like he was coming in for criticism for his performances despite dropping just one set before the quarter-finals.

‘It was a nice run, the draw opened up for me, but I took advantage of that,’ he said. ‘I felt I got better each round and put in a half decent performance against Luke, but I don’t think anyone would have lived with him.

‘People seemed to be slating me throughout saying I was playing rubbish. Yeah people were playing pretty badly against me but that’s not my fault. Averaging 94 when the person you’re playing is averaging 77 is hard!’

After a good Ally Pally run and Premier League inclusion it should all be positive for the world number 11, but there was some more criticism coming his way after defeat to Littler, with people suggesting it was all too friendly on the big stage.

There was plenty of fist bumping and laughs between the two as the Nuke won 5-2 and the Asp actually feels his critics have a point on this one.

‘Of all the criticism I’ve got that’s the one I can understand,’ he said. ‘There are a group of players on tour: Michael Smith, Chris Dobey, Jonny Clayton, Joe Cullen, if someone takes a shot out we fist bump, we are mates.

‘But I have thought, is it all a bit too friendly? You’re always learning in this game. Maybe I wasn’t quite as focussed as I should have been in the quarter-finals of the World Championship. Next time I play him, or Dobey or any of them, I’m going to be thinking about myself more.

‘I think people are craving rivalries, especially now Gezzy [Price] isn’t so much of the pantomime villain, they want some more of it. It’s difficult because you are fighting when you’re playing but we’re with each other 24/7 and we are mates, it’s hard to switch between the two, not many people can do it.’