BBC SPORT | Other Sports | Oldfield lays down the mat

By BBC Sport Online's Sean Martin

The new supremo of the World Bowls Tour has vowed to increase the number of television hours the sport gets.

Nigel Oldfield, who takes the reins as chief executive of the WBT on 2 February, says the sport will have to embrace change if it is to progress.

The 38-year-old's mantra is a three-way partnership between players, sponsors and broadcasters a universal agreement which must be achieved before decisions are made.

"Any sport relies on these three main elements and all of which are equally important."

Robert Weale has called for change

But Oldfield, who comes from sportingbet.com after a 12 year association with the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, pledges to increase the number of tournaments on the circuit.

"My prime objective is to increase the number of tournaments on television and the only way of doing that is to increase the number of tournaments there are.

"All three parties have to come together and provide a product everyone is comfortable with," he said at the World Indoor Bowls at Potters Leisure Resort in Great Yarmouth.

His goal will be music to the ears of members of the Professional Bowls Association who have been seeking better tournaments and better rewards for a number of years.

One of those who hopes things will change for the better is defending world indoor champion Robert Weale.

The Welsh world number three said players had been promised more events and better prize-money but had so far been short-changed.

Oldfield realises the sport has to make changes in order to attract sponsors and viewers, but at the same times knows it must keep the players happy.

"It is a process of evolution not revolution. It has taken place in a number of others sports and they are the professional sports that have survived.

"There is always room for change and new ways of doing things," Oldfield said.

A new ranking event at the County Antrim club in Northern Ireland has been added to the calendar but Oldfield's aims lie not just within the United Kingdom.

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He believes the sport must incorporate events in other Commonwealth countries where it has a strong foothold such as Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong.

"It is silly to have a World Bowls Tour that does not leave the UK, but it is equallly pointless to try and make it the national sport of Russia."

Bowls may not always be regarded as one of the most exciting of sports, but Oldfield sees exciting times ahead for the sport.

However, those hoping for a quick fix will be disappointed. The foundations will be laid down in the first six months, but changes are ahead.

As the shampoo advertisement says: "It won't happen overnight but it will happen."

Reconciling the needs of a sport dominated by young players who are open to ideas and keen to make a living from the game and a fan base who are resistant to change will be a stern test for the chief executive.