Luke Humphries hits back at savage darts legend who ripped into World Cup flop
Cool Hand takes issue with harsh remarks of ex-hero Dennis Priestley
Disappointed Luke Humphries has fired back at Dennis Priestley after the savage criticism launched out to him and Luke Littler by the darts legend.
Cool Hand has responded to strong statements from the former World Darts Champion who hammered the England pair after their nightmare World Cup exit.
Priestley didn't mince his words this week as he said they had let their country down and also stated Humphries and Littler were not yet deserving of the MBE honours which were handed to them on the even of the Frankfurt flop by The King.
Littler was first to bite back with a post on social-media being noted only for a short time on Thursday before disappearing.
However, Humphries has now used his X account to say: 'Disappointing to hear a top former pro who I admired say such a damaging thing to me and Luke. I didn't let my country down last year tho did I? One bad game for us and we will back next year to go again. Let's move on now.'
Priestley roasted the pair after it emerged from rival Gerwyn Price that the duo had not sat together or practised as a pair in Germany.
He said: 'Luke Littler and Luke Humphries let their country down at the World Cup of Darts, from what we've heard they weren't sitting together or practising together.
'When I was playing in pairs with Phil Taylor we practised together and sat together, we played all over the world and I only remember us getting beaten once.
'If you go on and win the tournament without practising then it doesn't matter, but when you go out without winning a game as the big favourites, it's not a good look.
'Having said that, I think they will learn from the experience and come back stronger. Don't be surprised to see them lifting the trophy next year.'
Priestley also made it clear that he did not feel the the pair deserve such recognition from The King at this stage of heir careers.
Humphries and Littler were both handed an honour from the Birthday List prior to their shocking loss to the hosts in Germany and The Menace added: 'To be brutally honest, I don't think either Luke Littler or Luke Humphries have done enough to earn their MBEs just yet. I think in time they could've done enough to warrant it but it feels very early, they have both won one World Championship each and are still young in their careers.
'Littler has been recognised for raising the popularity of darts which is great, but he can still do so much more. If he is getting an MBE this soon then you'd have to think he is on the right path to a knighthood, nothing would surprise me now.'
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