Former World Champion Rob Cross faces up to insolvency nightmare
As of 5th June 2025, following an investigation by the UK Insolvency Service, the decorated darting star was officially disqualified from acting as a company director for five years. The reason? Failing to pay more than £450,000 in taxes.
Advertisement
Now, with a plan in place and the matter in hand, the 34-year-old spoke to Online Darts' Phill Barrs about the ordeal – the toll it's taken, and how he intends to move forward:
'Look, I've got to talk about it, to be fair. It's not the proudest moment of my life. I know I've done wrong, and I've put my hands up to it.
'Going down the IVA route means I won't be paying all of that money back – I get that. I've made mistakes. It's going to leave a mark on me, no doubt. But I'm trying to do the right thing now. Mentally, it's been tough – this has been hanging over me for two years. I've been trying to get some kind of resolution, some peace of mind.
'It needs to be paid back, and I'll do what I can. But at the same time, this isn't breaking news for me. I've lived with it for a long time. I had to learn the hard way about putting all my eggs in one basket. At least now I know where I'm going.
Advertisement
'The only relief I can take is that it's finally out in the open. I'm working, I've got a plan, and I will pay it back. I can move forward now.'
SIGN UP FOR A DARTS WORLD MEMBERSHIP TODAY!
When asked whether he was surprised the news became public, Cross was candid:
'No, not really. I knew it was going to surface eventually. It's me – no one else is to blame. If anything, I'm more surprised it took nearly two years to come out. The UK Government didn't want me to go bankrupt, and rightly so. At the time, I didn't think I needed to either.
'But here we are. I've just got to stick to the plan, keep working, and get it sorted. It gives me some breathing room, and hopefully, some closure too.'
Advertisement
It's a harsh lesson – and an expensive one. But with the weight now public and the path forward clear, Cross can hopefully return to doing what he does best: throwing tungsten and winning titles.
For the full stories and more in depth coverage of everything darts, together with the latest issues of their legendary publications, head on over todartsworld.com
Darts World subscriptions options include Print, Digital and All Access packages, as well as exclusive products and competitions
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Former fund manager Neil Woodford to be banned and fined almost £46m
The financial watchdog has provisionally banned former star City fund manager Neil Woodford and fined him and his former fund company almost £46 million for putting investors' money at risk. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said it will ban Mr Woodford from holding senior manager roles and managing funds for retail investors. It also announced plans to fine him £5.89 million and Woodford Investment Management (WIM) £40 million. Mr Woodford and WIM have referred the case to the Upper Tribunal for appeal. The former manager's flagship fund, Woodford Equity Income, was wound down in 2019 after investors tried to withdraw cash faster than the fund could pay out, amid concerns over its high exposure to illiquid and unquoted shares. On Tuesday, the FCA said it has concluded that Mr Woodford and the fund 'made unreasonable and inappropriate investment decisions' between July 2018 and June 2019. Steve Smart, joint executive director of enforcement and market oversight at the FCA, said: 'Being a leader in financial services comes with responsibilities as well as profile. Mr Woodford simply doesn't accept he had any role in managing the liquidity of the fund. 'The very minimum investors should expect is those managing their money make sensible decisions and take their senior role seriously. 'Neither Neil Woodford nor Woodford Investment Management did so, putting at risk the money people had entrusted them with.'
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Liverpool FC News: Hugo Ekitike confirms GENIUS Arne Slot move
Liverpool's transfer decisions this summer have mostly been risk-free, despite their expense. Of course, no piece of recruitment business is every guaranteed to succeed and the season still hasn't started yet, but you can't help but feel encouraged watching the team in pre-season games. 🔴 Shop the LFC 2025/26 adidas home range 🚨2025/26 LFC x adidas range🚨 LFC x adidas Shop the goalkeeper range today LFC x adidas Shop the new adidas range today! Jeremie Frimpong's move for £30m is considered a steal since he can cover a few different positions, the £45m spent on Milos Kerkez felt understandable after last season' extraordinary campaign and then you're left with Florian Wirtz's club-record fee - £100m plus £16m add-ons. The German will have to do a lot before his fee is justified, but considering he's already viewed as being 'world class' at 22 years old, the signs are promising that he can be generational for us. 🔴 Shop the LFC 2025/26 adidas away range After that, the focus lands on Hugo Ekitike, who's move certainly a risk that Liverpool chose to take. Slot's genius move with Ekitike I say this a little tongue in cheek, knowing that I'm basing this opinion off a pre-season game and his £69m plus £10m fee was definitely an over-pay based on returns he's delivered at 23 years old. But the Frenchman was particularly impressive on Monday night against Athletic Club, starting the game as the team's striker, since Darwin Nunez played and excelled in the Reds' earlier game. The 45 minutes he played against Yokohama FM last week were particularly difficult to judge - it was his debut and the match was just a week after Ekitike joined the club. His appearance was more about getting used to what an Arne Slot team was like to play in, no one had any real expectations. But at Anfield, the vibe was a little different, with a maturing team playing with a great freedom about themselves, now the social bonds between the players had been given a chance to develop. And it showed in the performance - you were left thinking, 'this team's potential is absolutely massive'. One of the reasons behind such a feeling was the opening goal of the contest, created by Ekitike taking the ball down the left-hand side and driving a pass into Mohamed Salah's feet to finish off. Not only did that moment give the fans something clear to look back on when it comes to working out why Liverpool felt the need to spend up to £79m on him, but it showcased how multi-functional a player he can be, which is going to be essential if the links with Alexander Isak actually materialise. Ekitike was fielded as a striker and he had a couple of shots on goal that were threatening, but his ability to communicate with Cody Gakpo without any words needing to be exchanged, deciding to move into the space and set-up a scoring chance was incredible. It's everything you want to see. Across his 57-minute appearance, he delivered two key passes, an accurate long-ball, two big chances created and two duels won from five. It's a friendly after all, but in my view, he proved that left-wing is definitely a position that he could play, and with relative ease, alongside moving centrally. Isak's potential transfer might lead to Ekitike playing down the left-side a bit more, but he's going to be competing for his preferred position. It's only healthy that you aren't allowed to sit on your laurels. So the Frenchman's flexibility appears to have made his transfer a genius move. Other strikers wouldn't be a comfortable at left-wing as he is and by signing Ekitike rather than a Benjamin Sesko or a Viktor Gyokeres, the Reds now have options, since Luis Diaz has left to join Bayern Munich. Whether we see Isak join or not, the team will be fine. Ekitike was superb for Eintracht Frankfurt last season and I'm sure we'll see him flourish under Arne Slot, although I admit the Premier League is a very different animal to the Bundesliga; but the two could definitely play in the same front three.
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Former Arsenal player Partey granted bail on rape charges
Former Arsenal footballer Thomas Partey was granted conditional bail on Tuesday after appearing in a London court on rape and sexual assault charges. The 32-year-old Ghana international has been charged with five counts of rape against two women, as well as a charge of sexual assault against a third woman. The alleged offences took place between 2021 and 2022, when he was an Arsenal player. Partey was charged four days after leaving the Gunners when his contract expired at the end of June. The midfielder stood with his arms behind his back in the dock at Westminster Magistrates' Court, wearing a black zip-neck jumper. British police said they first received reports of an allegation of rape in February 2022. Partey's lawyer Jenny Wiltshire previously said he "denies all the charges against him", adding he welcomed "the opportunity to finally clear his name". Partey joined Arsenal for £45 million ($60 million) from Atletico Madrid in October 2020. He appeared 52 times for the Gunners last season, scoring four goals. Overall he played 167 games for the club, scoring nine times. Partey has also made 51 appearances for Ghana. An Arsenal spokesman previously said: "The player's contract ended on June 30. Due to ongoing legal proceedings the club is unable to comment on the case." Reports in recent days have linked Partey with a move to Spanish club Villarreal. jw/jkb/pi
