Gerwyn Price insists he is worthy of a spot in the Premier League (Image: Getty)
Gerwyn Price insists he deserves another crack at the Premier League after criticism of his selection. and have been the most contentious of the wildcard picks after both endured poor 2024s.
World Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker has been particularly vociferous, calling his omission “scandalous” and insisting Price and Aspinall didn’t deserve their spots. He claimed via Belgian media that Aspinall had been and highlighted Price’s
De Decker said: “If Price throws badly for two out of the first three weeks, he’ll post something on again and start complaining. But they’ll stick him in again.”
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However, Price believes he and Aspinall have been picked for their consistency over a long period of time and says one-off major success is not enough anymore.
“They deserve to have their opinions,” he admitted. “There have been players in the past who have won majors but haven’t got in the . I think those players have an argument.
“But they need to keep playing and be a bit more consistent. Winning one major final probably isn’t good enough, you have to back it up and keep doing it year on year.
Mike De Decker slammed Price’s Premier League selection (Image: Getty)
“People have said I don’t deserve it, that Nathan doesn’t deserve it. But we’ve been playing well for years. One blip doesn’t mean we have to get kicked out. Hopefully, I can back it up after being given another opportunity.
“I think I’ve given a lot and sacrificed a lot over the last couple of years. I didn’t have the best of seasons in 2024 and if I hadn’t been in, I would have known why. But in my eyes, I deserve another chance, and I’m ready for it this time.”
The venue for the opening night on Thursday should bring out the best in Price. It’s Belfast’s SSE Arena where he memorably hit two nine-darters in one night in 2022.