Clifford offers to save snooker

Publicist Max Clifford might have cliff-hangers like last night’s battle between defending Masters champion Mark Selby and Ricky Walden in mind as he claims he could rescue snooker from what Ronnie O’Sullivan claims is a “downward spiral”.

Clifford says he is willing to listen to offers from the sport’s governing body to launch a programme to overhaul the game’s image in the wake of stunning attack from its most recognisable face, O’Sullivan.