Hearn: We have a big job ahead

Barry Hearn insists the in-fighting within snooker will stop after the leading players voted to put him in control of the sport's destiny.

Hearn, via his Matchroom Sports operation, will take a 51% stake in World Snooker after the top 64 players voted 35-29 in his favour at a meeting in Sheffield.

"We said after the meeting that we've drawn a line in the sand, and all the problems in the past, all the politics, are history," Hearn told Press Association Sport.

Stars including Stephen Hendry and Peter Ebdon were backing a rival bid fronted by former Olympian John Davison, however Davison elected to miss the meeting and Hearn squeezed enough votes to allow him to push ahead with his vision for snooker's future.

Hearn, who has had business success across sports including darts, boxing and golf, had a high profile in snooker during the 1980s and returned to the front line in December when he was a popular choice as chairman of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, succeeding Sir Rodney Walker.

He has largely impressed in the role, and there were many who would have been upset to see him leave snooker again, which was his threat had the players voted against him. Yet given the emergence of Davison as a rival last week, Hearn headed to the WPBSA EGM knowing the players' support for his plans was not guaranteed.

"I never take anything for granted, I'm always prepared for every eventuality," he said. "I like well contested fights and to keep people on the edge of their seats.

"The result was very satisfying, and for me it's personally been one of the most satisfying days of my life. We start now. There's lots to be done. We've got everybody pulling in the right direction. We've got issues to deal with and we'll set about doing that."

World Snooker will separate from the WPBSA, which will remain the regulatory body, with Jason Ferguson set to succeed Hearn as chairman. Hearn's focus will turn to running World Snooker, and he has pledged that prize money will rise from £3.5million in 2009/10 to £4.5million in 2010/11, promising to return control to the WPBSA if he fails with his venture.

Davison graciously accepted defeat and said in a statement released to Press Association Sport: "We congratulate Barry on securing the votes of the playing members of the WPBSA and wish them and all the stakeholders all the best of luck in the future."