FORMER World Champion Dennis Taylor is suing the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association for libel.

Solicitors acting on behalf of Mr Taylor, who lives in Beardwood, Blackburn, have filed a writ with the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court following a press release issued by the WPBSA on August 26.

Mr Taylor's manager Ian Doyle said the player felt the press release, headed "WPBSA call for removal of three board members" and sent to newspapers across the UK, blighted his reputation.

Mr Doyle said: "The three board members referred to are Dennis Taylor and Steve Davis, who are two of the biggest legends in the game, and a third player, Jason Ferguson, and the press release stated that Mr Taylor was not working in the best interests of the game.

"He feels that this has blighted his reputation and is absolute nonsense because he has always worked on behalf of the game."

Mr Taylor is also claiming damages for libel against the WPBSA's former chairman Rex Williams, of Lye Head, Bewdley, and former company secretary Martin Blake, of Clifton, Bristol, who both resigned last Friday.

Mr Taylor, Mr Davis and Mr Ferguson, who is ranked 50th in the world, retained their positions following an Extraordinary General Meeting of the WPBSA at the Tickled Trout Hotel, Preston on Monday. A WPBSA spokesman said: "The meeting was called by players who voted on a resolution to remove Dennis Taylor, Steve Davis, Jason Ferguson, Rex Williams and a fifth director, Bob Close, from the board.

"The meeting involved voting members of the WPBSA, who are the top 64 players in the country over the last two years, and resulted in a resolution to remove Rex Williams and Bob Close despite the fact they had already resigned.

"The players voted for Dennis Taylor, Steve Davis and Jason Ferguson to remain as directors. Martin Blake was the company secretary who also resigned last week."

In the writ, filed on September 10, Mr Taylor seeks damages from the three defendants as well as an injunction to restrain them from publishing, causing to publish or authorising the publication of the same or similar words.

The amount claimed by Mr Taylor is unspecified.

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