Phil Taylor claimed he was offered the chance to mentor Luke Littler.
The Power, 64, stepped away from the oche for good on Tuesday (October 22) after he was forced to pull out of his farewell event. However, he’s leaving darts in good hands with its newest superstar Littler.
Taylor, the 16-time world darts champion, told talkSPORT: “With young Luke, they have asked me if I would sit down with him. I said: ‘Of course, I will’. But I would have to go and live with him for a few days, see what he is all about.
“I know young Luke, we have the same sponsor. If I spent time with him, I would see how he practises, see how he eats and exercises, how he does anything.
“If he’s playing on those PlayStations, I would give him a set time, an hour a night or something, and then get ready for the next day. Make sure you aren’t staying up late and wake up in the morning and you are shattered.
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“I have seen that many, many times – players who will have a drink afterwards, they get into the drinking and then they aren’t getting to bed until 1am or 2am.”
Littler has had quite the breakout year – and he’s banked more £700,000 in prize money. Taylor added: “Young Luke could probably retire when he is 25 or 30-years-old!”
However, it’s all over for Taylor, who admitted he’s done for good: “I’m retired now. Properly retired. I will do a little bit of personal appearances, some meet-and-greets. Sign autographs.
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“My eyes started going a few years ago. So I had a lens replacement. Then my hips went. It’s the travelling, the amount of tournaments on the PDC is crazy. You are literally away from home 4-5 days a week, every week. It’s that busy.
“It’s great for earning money. But it’s not great on your family and on your body. In my mind, I am still 18. But my body is about 90 – that’s the problem!”