John Spencer has resigned as chairman of snooker's ruling body less than a month before he was due to seek re-election. A brief statement from the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association confirmed Spencer's decision to quit ahead of the sport's annual meeting in Bristol on December 19th.

The three times World champion from Radcliffe, who took over the reigns from John Virgo, refused to expand on the reasons for standing down. "I've no comment though I might say something at a later date," the 61 year old Spencer said.