Wayne Jones and ex-boxer team up

Wolverhampton's Wayne Jones is in the money despite his first round exit in the European Championships - thanks to a helping hand from ex-boxer Richie Carter.

Jones' plea for a sponsor has been answered by Carter who, today, is co-owner of Willenhall-based conservatory manufacturer Energy Seal, with his younger brother David.

Carter also has the Victoria Inn pub on Deans Road which another former boxer, Nigel Rafferty, runs for him and where, through one of his regulars, he heard of Jones' plight.

'The Wanderer,' a widowed father-of-three, was dependant on prize money from tournaments to pay for his overheads, such as the near-£15,000 cost just for membership with the PDC.

But now the world number 14 can relax after last week's defeat to Mark Walsh and prepare for his next televised tournament, the World Grand Prix in Dublin at the start of October, after Carter stepped up to the plate.

Wolverhampton has been gripped by darts fever this week, after tickets for the Grand Slam in November went on sale on Monday morning.

There were long queues outside of the box office in the city centre for the eight-day-long event at Wolverhampton Civic Hall, where Carter made his pro boxing debut in 1988.

And Jones expects the anticipation to reach fever pitch long before the Sky Sports cameras roll into town on November 12.

He said: "The interest in darts around here, at the moment, is phenomenal and there's a lot to come before we even get to the Grand Slam.

"I have got a month off now, the World Grand Prix is the next televised event but I have been trying for years to get a decent sponsor.

"I am hoping this works out for Richie and for me, I want him to get something out of it and it would be nice if a lot of people get in touch with him because of my name.

"I have had that many promises of deals in the past and they have always fell through, but this looks quite good.

"I am pretty much guaranteed to be in all of the televised events this year and we will see what happens next year, so it has come at the right time."

Jones is having a new trademark gold and black shirt done in time for the World Grand Prix, with his new sponsor's company logo on display.

Energy Seal was only started in 2006 but their success has allowed Carter the resources to back Jones with cash.

He said: "I am chuffed, he's a local sportsman with a great following and he is up there with them all in darts.

"I had sponsors when I was boxing years ago and it becomes a great help, I was so grateful at the time.

"We have gone from strength to strength as a company, we employ over 20 people now, so it's good for both of us."

As a boxer, Carter won a junior ABA title in 1987 and turned pro at age 18 a year later, before surprisingly quitting the sport in 1992.

Now a married father-of-two and approaching his 41st birthday next month, Carter was still only 22 at the time and had a good pro record, with just one defeat and one draw in 12 fights.

The East Park-born middleweight was regarded as one of the brightest prospects in the country and, today, Carter admits he wished he had made more of his boxing career.

He said: "I do regret it when I look back at it, I wanted the lot but there's a lot of boxers around here that have gone to waste, I had already fought hard and it all took its toll.

"When you are young, you think you are a man but you are a boy really, and you think you are going to be around forever at that age."