Raymond van Barneveld admits he nearly quit darts after the World Championships, but is now back in the right frame of mind to tackle the McCoys Premier League which starts on Thursday.

Barney has endured some lean years recently, and a shock first round exit at Alexandra Palace had him seriously contemplating his future in the sport.

The Dutchman was delighted to be included in the McCoy Premier League though, which starts in Manchester on Thursday, and now believes he has turned things around since his slump.

Sky Sports News Radio

Click Here for full audio interview with Raymond van Barneveld.

"The last World Championship was really poor, I lost to James Richardson in the first round and that was a poor day in my career," van Barneveld told Sky Sports News Radio at the Premier League media day.

"After that I didn't watch the World Championship for three or four days and seriously I was thinking of quitting because I was thinking 'what's the use?'

Happy

"But I talked to a few people and I started to believe in myself and from January 2nd I started practising four hours a day and its good in my head now.

"I'm happy and over the moon with the wildcard for the McCoys Premier League.

"The last year wasn't the greatest and I'm really happy to be in this one and hoping to do well. Last year I was second but blew it in the semi-finals. This year the target is the semis again and then hopefully make the final."

Van Barneveld said that thinking about having to return to his former job as a postman was enough motivation to get him back on the oche and focused on getting back to his best.

"At the end it's all about financial things and I earned good money don't get me wrong for the last few years but if I stick to the money I still have I can I've a good life for the next five years but then I'd have to start looking for a job, so I thought I'd have to stay with the darts.

Change

"But I have to change a lot, I wasn't thinking positive the whole last year. But then people said 'Ray you've got a good life, you want to swap with me or start bringing the post to the doors again like you did years ago?'

"So I just thought about that and decided to stick with the darts and I feel a lot better now."

Barneveld made the semi-finals of last year's Premier League and he is now relishing returning to darts' big roadshow.

"The world title is the most important one of course, but the Premier League is huge. The main thing about the Premier League is that you have the eight best players in the world every Thursday night from town to town.

"If you buy a ticket for Cardiff, for Belfast, Aberdeen it doesn't matter, you're guaranteed to see your favourite player."