Gerwyn Price has fired back at Nathan Aspinall’s “can’t be a***d” jibes.
The Welsh star is adamant he’s up for a spot in the 2025 Premier League after starting his Paddy Power World Championship bid with a smooth win over Keane Barry. Price had previously expressed his reluctance to accept an invitation, citing the gruelling travel demands and packed schedule.
But he’s changed his tune as he said: “There’s a lot of good players out there and if I don’t get in the Premier League, then it’s because somebody else deserves it. But if I have a good run in this, then I’m up for it.” When pushed, Price added: “I think I’m already in. Matt [Porter] will tell you.”
Aspinall says it would look bad on the PDC to include Price and Gary Anderson after the pair made noises about not taking part. He said: “I will give 110 per cent every single night on that stage. If they can’t be a***d, why put them in? I just don’t get it. I don’t even know why the PDC would consider it. If they put them in it looks bad on the PDC in my opinion.”
Meanwhile, sympathetic Price has offered his support to crushed Cameron Menzies and insists he feels for the shattered Scot. The Ayrshire ace has been under severe personal strain with his father Ricky hospitalised and having undergone surgery.
With the pressures of the World Championship also on his shoulders as he was losing to Leonard Gates, it got too much as he cried openly through the closing stages of the contest in harrowing scenes.
Boisterous Ally Pally crowds to nothing to help Menzies through the situation as they hounded him for the entire match. Price has been in that situation getting severe stick from the crowd and, infamously, put on a pair ear muffs to block out the verbals during a game two years ago.
His heart went out to Menzies as he said: “It comes with the territory, especially when you are a Scot or Welshman playing in England. I’ve had it myself and you just have to deal with it as best as you can, but I feel for him.”