Moves may be ahead to allow more freedom of darts players between the sport’s leading bodies.

A long-standing rift between the British Darts Organisation and the Professional Darts Corporation has led to players not being able to move freely between the codes.

But now the BDO is proposing to lift a ruling - which meant a year’s ban for players competing in the other camp.

Players taking part in the PDC qualifying school are currently subject to a 365-day BDO ban. But the body is now asking counties to support lifting the ruling – although it would still stand for the PDC’s top 128 players who compete at the highest level.

It would mean players who fail to make the second tier of PDC competition would still be eligible to compete in BDO competitions such as the Gold Cup, Winmau World Masters, Lakeside World Cahmpionship and all opens.

The proposal has been welcomed by Hampshire Darts Organisation’s Frank Branscombe who has campaigned for ‘darts for all’ for a number of years.

He said: Hampshire already has this policy in place in that it promotes complete freedom of choice to all players as to with and against whom they wish to compete against in the Sport of Darts and we will never deny a place in our events to any player on the grounds of membership of another darts body.

“As I see it the BDO are at last proposing to go some way in endorsing that policy and therefore the Hampshire County Darts Organisation membership should take this as testament that they were perhaps right all along.

“Hampshire has for many years taken the initiative in the campaign for unification and this is a massive step towards its fulfilment.

“Every HCDO member should be rightfully proud for the unwavering stance they have taken over this issue “It is my sincere hope that other Counties support this proposal.”