Darts legend Phil Taylor confirms he will take new job with Luke Littler - on one condition
Phil Taylor is willing to move in with Luke Littler to ensure the teenager does not stay up too late on his PlayStation rather than readying himself for the next day. Nicknamed 'The Power,' Taylor, 64, is as good as retired after having hip replacement surgery and laser eye surgery.
The 16-time world darts champion now claims he has the chance to mentor Littler, who he believes would be rich enough to retire within a decade. Littler has already earned approaching £1million in prize money this year alone after reaching the PDC World Championship final in January.
His management team is said to have asked Taylor to offer their client some advice. However, he will only do so on one condition.
READ MORE: Michael van Gerwen 'chokes' Luke Littler after making vow in remarkable scenes
READ MORE: Phil Taylor ends darts career after being forced to pull out of final tournament
Speaking on talkSPORT, Taylor revealed: "With young Luke, they have asked me if I would sit down with him, and I said, 'Of course, I will.' But I would have to go and live with him for a few days and see what he is all about."
The darts legend further detailed his potential mentorship approach: "If I spent time with him, I would see how he practises, how he eats and exercises, how he does anything. If he's playing on one of those PlayStations, I would give him a set time—maybe an hour a night or something—and then get ready for the next day.
"Make sure you aren't staying up too late and waking up in the morning, and you are shattered. I have seen that so many times – players who will have a drink afterwards get into the drinking, and then they aren't getting to bed until 1am or 2am."
Following his 7-4 defeat by Luke Humphries in a thrilling World Championship final at Ally Pally nine months earlier, Littler clinched the Premier League title - the darts circuit's second most lucrative prize - along with triumphs in Bahrain, Austria, Belgium, and Poland. On the other hand, Taylor has opted out of next month's World Seniors Masters in Sunderland, which was to be his swansong in competition.
He confirmed: "I'm retired now—properly retired. I will make some personal appearances, meet-and-greets, sign autographs and that sort of thing.
"But my eyes started going a few years ago, so I had a lens replacement. Then my hips went. In my mind, I am still 18. But my body is about 90 – and that's the problem."