Small brushoff slammed
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ByEurosport
Published 08/01/2007 at 11:04 GMT
Stephen Hendry has criticised snooker's governing body for refusing financial support to a former player suffering from a crippling spine condition. Chris Small - a one-time world championship semi-finalist - was forced to retire in 2005 because of the pa
SNOOKER 2006 Stephen Hendry
Image credit: From Official Website
But Small, 33, of Edinburgh, has been refused a payout by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association from their benevolent fund designed to give financial assistance for players who have fallen on hard times.
Seven-times world champion Hendry, a former practise-partner of Small, said he was shocked Small had been denied a grant.
"The benevolent fund is supposed to be in place to help snooker players who are in need of assistance," Hendry said in The Scotsman.
"If Chris doesn't qualify for help given his sad circumstances, then I don't know who would."
Small, whose main income now comes from his wife's part-time childminding, said he appreciated Hendry's support.
"It means a lot to me to get the support of Stephen Hendry, the world number one. I used to practise with him most days during my last season as a professional.
"He was a good practice player to have and kept you on your toes. He's a nice lad as well."
The benevolent fund was created in 1983, declaring its aim "to provide charitable assistance to professional players of billiards and snooker and their dependents requiring such assistance by reason of disablement, superannuation, death or otherwise".
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