Ken Doherty has admitted that he was surprised to learn of Sir Rodney Walker’s revolutionary plan to restructure the snooker calendar in 2010.

“It came as a big surprise and, without being too cynical, I hope it’s not just a ploy to get a few votes because of our AGM, which is on next week” said the 1997 world champion.

Walker’s proposal could see snooker visiting countries such as Brazil, Poland, Romania and Australia next year, but Doherty has questioned the timing of the announcement.

“It comes after Barry Hearn throwing his hat in the ring a couple of weeks ago saying that if the chairman was ousted he would certainly, if the players supported him, take over the chairman’s role.”

The Irishman was particularly pleased with Walker’s plan to boost the number of ranking tournaments, from 6 this season, to 15 in 2010 – “It would be fantastic if it happens because it’s what the players want. This year we have only six ranking tournaments so to have 15 would be a huge bonus.”

However, with tournaments costing in the region of a half a million pounds to stage is the demand for these new tournaments in countries with little interest in snooker realistic?

“We don’t know. I think the proof is in the pudding. We have to wait and see where the tournaments are and what they are going to go for. You could say you were going to have a ranking tournament for £5,000 but that wouldn’t make any sense” concluded Doherty.