JAMES WADE believes he has let himself down as he bids to return to the elite level of the sport.

The 10-times major winner has enjoyed a good start to the season on the ProTour, reaching the last-16 of the Players Championship 3 before making the quarter-finals in Players Championship 4. 

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However, Wade is absent from the Premier League line-up for a third straight season and has endured three successive second-round exits at the PDC World Darts Championship. 

‘The Machine’ admits he would be disappointed to finish his career without any further success in the PDC majors. 

He told the Love The Darts podcast: “I still know that I’m good enough for a top eight player, more than good enough.

“Other people might not think that, but that’s how I feel and that’s how I know I am. 

“It’s not something I’m relishing, not something I’m going to enjoy, but I need to get back up there for my own sanity, I think, because I believe I should be there.

“I feel like I’ve let myself down by being in the positions I’ve put myself in.” 

World No.14 Wade enters the UK Open at Butlin’s Minehead Resort with a bye into the fourth round on Friday, as he aims to impress and contend for his fourth career title at the event. 

He added: “I’ve won more tournaments than most and not many people know that.

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“I’ve done myself an injustice, how I’ve conducted myself at times and that’s my own fault.

“That’s not a legacy that’s celebrated as it would be if it was other players that have not won as much but have got more.

“I need to do it, for personal reasons. I know where I should be and if I finish up the game where I am now, that would be a failure in my eyes. 

“I know I can still win TV titles. I know what I can do and I know what I’m capable of.

“I don’t have to be at my very best to do that, but the timing’s got to be right.

“I’ve just got to be in the right place at the right time for myself and then hopefully that I can get myself up for the rankings, where the early doors and the draws are a little bit kinder to me.”

STRICTLY star Saffron Barker has taken a swipe at her ex boyfriend as he moves on with a girl who looks just like her.

YouTuber and influencer Saffron split from rugby player Louis Rees-Zammit last year.

Instagram @ saffronbarker

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They unfollowed each other before Saffron shared a split statement on social media.

Now it appears the break-up was far from amicable.

Saffron, 24, shared a TikTok taking aim at someone from her past, after Louis shared holiday snaps with a girl who looks strikingly similar to her.

Saffron didn’t say anything in the short clip, but used a snippet of Kendrick Lamar’s track Not Like Us for the audio.

She wrote over the video: “No revenge because I have quite frankly literally never heard anyone say something nice about you.”

The star captioned it with another swipe, adding: “And Karma always get them.”

Fans immediately put two and two together, saying her post was about Welsh rugby star Louis.

One wrote beneath her video: “If you look at Louis repost, he’s got a new lady and this is the same sound she’s used for a vid of him.”

Another said: “I’m guessing Louis?” as one more wrote: “Defo Louis!”

The YouTuber is also completely smitten with her new boyfriend.

The Strictly star, who appeared on the BBC series in 2020, revealed she was dating model Josh Miln towards the end of the last year, introducing the 6ft 2in star into her YouTube vlogs.

Saffron opened up about how the pair met in a vlog posted last week, weeks after introducing Josh to fans via videos that included them spending time with each others’ families at Christmas.

Speaking from her car, she explained that she wanted a “romantic, love at first sight” story for them, when in fact she simply messaged him online.

Saffron recently appeared in the Love Island villa to support her pal Harriette Blackmore, who is also from Brighton.

FAME AND FORTUNE

Considering she is only in her twenties, Saffron has earned herself quite the fortune.

She is thought to have a net worth over £1million.

Saffron will earn most of her cash through YouTube adverts and also endorsements.

She shot to fame through her popular videos and is known for In My Day with Saffron Barker.

Taking part in Strictly Come Dancing and Channel 4’s Celebrity Circle would’ve also boosted her bank balance.

She also had her own clothing line at Primark, and has renovated her first home, installing a cinema room.

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DENISE O’SULLIVAN has described ex-Ireland youth star Amanda Parkes as a “beautiful soul” following her heartbreaking death at 35.

Parkes, a fellow Cork-native of O’Sullivan’s, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family at Cork University Hospital on Monday.

RIP.ie

Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

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As well as being from the same county as O’Sullivan, Parkes played alongside the Ireland talisman at Peamount United.

The pair were part of the Eileen Gleeson-managed side that became the first Irish club to get to the knock-out stage of a European competition.

They did so in the 2011/12 Champions League, in which they finished second in a group that contained Rayo Vallecano de Madrid, ŽNK Krka and Pärnu FC.

O’Sullivan paid tribute to her former teammate on social media, describing her as a beautiful soul.

The 31-year-old said: “I had the pleasure of knowing Amanda and getting to play with her for many years.

“She was a beautiful soul who always put a smile on other people’s face. Incredibly heartbreaking.

“Thinking of her family and friends. Rest easy Amanda”.

Parkes’ untimely passing was announced by her home club Wilton United, of which she had been a member.

The club said: “It’s with great sadness that we announce the passing of one of Wilton United greatest players.

“Amanda Parkes passed away on the 24/2/25. Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this sad time.

“A genuine, kind person she will be greatly missed. May she rest in peace.”

This was followed by a tweet from the FAI, which offered its condolences to the bereaved family.

It read: “The FAI sends its condolences to the family, friends & former team-mates of Amanda Parkes, who sadly passed away.

“The Cork native was a former Ireland international & member of Wilton United.

“She will be deeply missed.”

Ballyphehane GAA Club, for which she was a player, joined in the tributes.

The club said: “Amanda was known to many for her incredible sporting ability, but above all else how kind hearted she was.

“Today, our deepest thoughts and sympathies are with Amanda family along with her former teammates, friends, and all who were privileged to know her.”

‘KIND PERSON’

Niall O’Regan is the Head of Education and Development at the FAI.

And he said: “Amanda was a great player, a very kind person and was loved by all her team mates who have so many fond memories of the joy she brought, condolences to all Amanda’s friends, team mates & family. A loss that will be felt by so many. RIP Amanda.”

Amanda will be reposing at the Wilton Funeral Home on Thursday, February 27 from 5pm to 6pm.

Requiem Mass will be noon on Frida, February 28 in the Church of the Real Presence, Curraheen, with funeral afterwards to The Island Crematorium in Ringaskiddy.

PUNTERS are in turmoil after Gordon Elliott confirmed they will have to wait a little longer to find out where Brighterdaysahead runs.

The awesome wondermare has been untouchable this season, winning the Grade 1 Neville Hotels Hurdle by 30 lengths when last seen as part of a quickfire hat-trick.

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She was hammered into odds-on favourite for the Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham Festival after that – despite having reigning Champion Hurdle king State Man trailing behind.

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But Elliott has hinted all along he wants a crack at Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle.

And seeing Nicky Henderson’s star in a pre-Cheltenham workout at Kempton yesterday has done little to change his mind.

But he revealed on Wednesday that the final decision will come down to owner and Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary.

And it won’t be made until Monday or Tuesday next week, leaving punters guessing a little while longer.

More than £100,000 has been matched on Brighterdaysahead in the Champion Hurdle and Mares’ Hurdle combined on the Betfair Exchange.

But her price for the latter has fluctuated massively in recent days.

Elliott said during a stable visit everyone will know her definite target soon enough, insisting they will ‘do the right thing’ for the horse.

He said: “It’s a Champion Hurdle, it’d be great to win it and we could be a long time trying to get a horse for it again, but if you look at the betting she’s very short for the Mares’ Hurdle.

“You don’t persuade Michael, he does his own thing, and we’ll do the right thing for the horse.

“It (the decision) will be made on Monday or Tuesday.

“I don’t think we’ve had as good a chance in a Champion Hurdle before.

“We’ve been second and third in Champion Hurdles and Jack Kennedy says she’s different class.”

Brighterdaysahead is 1-2 non-runner no bet for the Mares’ and a best price 9-4 for the Champion Hurdle.

Both races take place on Tuesday, March 11, the first day of the four-day Festival.

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A PREMIER League club boss has admitted arranging a “cash for sex” deal with a teen girl he is accused of raping.

The leading football figure, who cannot be named, is being sued by the alleged victim for aggravated damages.

She claims she was raped by the man at his home when she was aged 15 after he invited her over to discuss a potential career opportunity.

In High Court papers, the man admitted he had initiated a “cash for sex” arrangement while she was 16 or 17, The Athletic reports.

He also claimed she had contacted him multiple times over the following years to offer sexual favours in return for money.

His signed statement continued: “On the vast majority of occasions (he) has declined offers of sex, although he has engaged in sexual activity with the claimant on up to about 15 occasions in total over the years, for which he rewarded her with cash payments in line with her expectations.

“On one occasion, the defendant engaged in sexual activity with both the claimant and her sister, both of whom were looking to earn some cash.”

The football boss – anonymised in court as JZX – also branded her allegations as “dishonest and malicious”.

The alleged victim came forward in 2021 claiming she was raped at his home when she was 15.

But the man was not arrested and the case was left on file by the Crown Prosecution Service.

This was due to a legal irregularity that meant the woman had waited too long to report the claims.

Legislation at the time stated if the alleged offence took place between 1956 and 2004, and the complainant was a girl aged between 13 and 15, she had to make a report within a year.

Although this was scrapped when the 2003 Sexual Offences Act came into place, it still applied if the alleged incident took place in the previous 48 years.

She is suing the Premier League figure for aggravated damages for sexual assault and intentional infliction of injury.

The woman claims that while he was showing her around the house, JZX subjected her to a “disgusting and traumatising” ordeal.

She said in her own papers that he made her sit on his knee, told her she was a “good girl” and asked if she was a virgin.

JZX then allegedly handed her £150 in three £50 notes after raping her.

She says the alleged attack left her with depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

The woman admits having sex on a number of occasions over the years but said she believed he would provide her with career opportunities “if she complied with his sexual demands”.

JZX strongly denies the allegations and has stated the “implied contention that (he) might harm her or her family is wholly unfounded”.

The BBC previously revealed how the boss was still in his post while awaiting the High Court trial.

The duo of Triple H and Shawn Michaels are two of the prominent figures in WWE today. They began their careers as professional wrestlers and went on to become game-changers and trailblazers, both wearing their wrestling gear and later on donning a corporate suit with major responsibilities. Shawn Michaels was one of the top attractions […]

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Jujutsu Kaisen might be cursed by its ending but it sure has one advantage over most Shonen series. In many Shonen genre anime, the female characters are heavily s*xualized, serve no purpose beyond being a love interest, or aren’t utilized to their full potential. Gege Akutami, however, wrote the opposite. There’s a reason why the […]

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New Delhi, Feb 26 (SocialNews.XYZ) Quick-service restaurant (QSR) chain Wow! Momo has reported a net loss of Rs 114 crore in FY24, as the company struggled with the rising expenses. The company’s total expenditure grew...

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