MY HEAVY HEART

Welshman Jonny reveals death of his father, who was his biggest fan, has hit him hard... but he admits the Ally Pally show must go on

- MIKE WALTERS

JONNY CLAYTON has been playing through the grief of losing his father and admits he will take to the Ally Pally stage "with a heavy heart".

The 'Ferret' has not won a major title on the Professional Darts Corporation treadmill for two years and concedes he may need to invoke his "chopsy" persona to fight his way out of the slump.

But the sudden death of his 80-year-old dad, John - who was also his biggest fan - in July left Clayton devastated, and he has discovered there is no overnight cure for the pain on a dartboard.

The ex-plasterer, who turns 50 next year, begins his campaign at the Paddy Power PDC World Championship on Saturday night and admitted: "Whether I do it in an untidy way or a pretty way, I'm still trying to win games of darts but I'm just not the same person."