Manley's Delight At Premier League Spot

PETER MANLEY is looking forward to returning to action in the Holsten Premier League Darts, after being confirmed as the sixth player for the tournament.

Manley reached his third Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship final on Monday, where he suffered a 7-0 loss to Phil Taylor.

'One Dart' also reached the semi-finals of the inaugural Premier League Darts last May as well as the last four at the Budweiser UK Open, and has moved up to fifth in the World Rankings.

He has been awarded the sixth place in this year's Holsten Premier League Darts, where he will join Taylor, Colin Lloyd, Ronnie Baxter, Roland Scholten and Wayne Mardle in the event.

"Coming into the World Championship, other than winning it, my main aim was the Premier League," he admitted.

"The profile it gives you is untold and for Barry Hearn to tell me after the final that I'm in it is fantastic.

"It means so much to me and my family. I'm a darts professional, we said initially that we'd give it two years to go on the circuit around the world - and it's been six now! I'm delighted."

During the 2005 Premier League, Manley changed his walk-on music to "Is This The Way To Amarillo", which led to him becoming a crowd favourite.

And his inclusion in this year's event means that he will again get a chance to appear in his home town of Carlisle, on 30 March.

The seventh player to be involved in the Holsten Premier League Darts will be announced later in January.

Meanwhile, Manley believes that the expanded format of the 2005-2006 World Championship was a huge success.

The event grew to 64 players with £500,000 prize money - of which Manley took £50,000 as runner-up.

"We've had players from around the world, and the Americans and Germans have really given us some ground to work with," said Manley, who is also the Chairman of the PDPA.

"I'm sure the PDC will build on this because we are looking for bigger and better things.

"With the emergence of Japan and China just around the corner it's going to be a terrific future for everyone."

Click here for full information about the Holsten Premier League Darts