VAN VEEN PLEADS WITH ANDERSON TO JOIN PREMIER LEAGUE

GIAN VAN VEEN revealed he has PLEADED with Gary Anderson to join the Premier League.

But defending World Champion Luke Littler is adamant the Scottish legend won’t change his mind for the 17-week roadshow.

Anderson crashed out of the World Championship after a sensational semi-final against van Veen.

The 55-year-old and the Dutch kid delivered an epic slugfest at the Ally Pally.

Van Veen is a huge fan of Ando and is desperate for Anderson to do a u-turn and compete in the Premier League.

The Dartan Army hero won it in both 2011 and 2015 and says he’s not going to accept any invite even if it is offered by the PDC and Sky as he stated: “No, no I’m quite happy, I need to concentrate on my rankings. If I done the Premier League, Europeans gone, Players Championship gone. I couldn’t give a monkeys. I can’t do it. It’s been great the years I’ve done it.”

Those comments didn’t deter Van Veen having a go to persuade him. He saud: “Even before the semi-final tonight, I asked Gary, You got to be in the Premier League. He said, No, I can’t do it. too much travel, blah, blah, blah.

“I said, just join us. Come play in the Premier League because that’s what we all want to see. We all say this to him. What Gary’s capable of, so that’s what we want. But if Gary says, ‘I’m not doing it’, then that’s his decision. But if it’s down to me, of course I would like to Gary be involved.”

Littler reckons the Scot won’t be change his mind, adding: “Like Gary has said, if he’s in the Premier League then he’s had a kick up the backside. I don’t think he will. He’s been there and done it before.

“It’s Gary who’s throwing the darts. He’s got his wife and kids supporting him. It’s whatever Gary does and I don’t think he could change that. That’s Gary and I don’t think he will.”

Van Veen heeped praise on Anderson after their semi-final classic and added: “Probably as a player, you shouldn’t be thinking that, but I was standing behind him when he was hitting what felt like his 40th maximum and I was just enjoying him playing. You shouldn’t be, when you’re on that stage, especially in the semi-final. But that’s what I’m like.

“I just enjoy playing darts, but also watching the legends of the game. But as soon as I realised, okay, you shouldn’t be doing that in the World semi-final, I got my head down and scored well as well in that game. But yeah, I was really enjoying myself on that stage.”

Image by Taylor Lanning.