Basildon snooker star Stuart Bingham may have won through to the main stages of the Embassy World Championship for the second time in his career -- but he is out of the Executive Club line-up in the Vic Harris League.

Bingham, 25, travelled back from winning his final World qualifying match with 1995 finalist Nigel Bond to be told by his captain of the Leigh-based Executive line-up: "You're dropped."

Heading for world championships but dropped by his Leigh based club the highs and lows of snooker for Basildon's Stuart Bingham Picture: MAXINE CLARKE 7GKRZ9C

Said skipper Chris Mullins: "We're all absolutely delighted that Stuart has made it through to the Crucible again after his heroics of beating Stephen Hendry there two years ago, but he admitted on his return from Newport that he was tired.

"For that reason I decided to leave him out of our Vic Harris Snooker League First Division clash with Canvey's Starr Snooker Club.

"To say that Stuart is dropped is something of a joke really as we all know he's been playing brilliantly recently and really fancy him to do well in the Embassy this time round."

Bingham, who made the trip to Newport with sponsor Gary Purkiss, was delighted with his 10-6 win over Bond, who will now struggle to keep himself in the game's top 32.

Published Tuesday, March 19, 2002