By Elliott West
Introduction
Ian Doyle has been compared to being the Scottish version of Barry Hearn.It was Ian’s way or the highway and this was the ethos that he maintained during his fifteen years as Stephen Hendry’s manager and later with John Higgins. Like so many managers of this period, Doyle liked to keep his players in check and prevented them from veering away from the task in hand, the path of success. A shrewd businessman, his sights were aimed on making the most money for himself and those were on his books and he was very selective in who he chose to manage, having an eye for natural talent. A man who didn’t mince his words when he had to vocalise his concerns, Doyle produced winners by pointing out the error of their ways and reforming their ways of approaching the sport.
The Direct Approach
Stephen Hendry and his wife Mandy, met as teenagers at Pontins and it was during this time that Hendry was first signed up to Doyle’s management stable. His manager advised him not to spend large amounts of time with Mandy as it would distract him from the job in hand. A call that heeded to, to a certain degree. When Stephen first played Jimmy White in the quarter-finals of the 1986 Scottish Masters, he froze in awe of having to play his hero. Jimmy outplayed him, beating him 5-1 and it hurt.
After the match, Doyle gave Hendry the hairdryer treatment, berating him for his mistakes and trying to shake him out of defeat. This was a pivotal moment in Stephen’s career as he realised the errors of his ways and toughened up, becoming gritty and most importantly angry. Ian had first discovered Stephen when he was fifteen and so had not only become a mentor but also a close family friend so felt it was his duty to see this lad succeed. A man who who was pivotal in Hendry’s years of domination of the green baize and observed as he filled his trophy cabinet with silverware. A reign which led to 36 ranking titles and £8 million in prize money.
Long after they had parted ways, Doyle was the one who tried to persuade Stephen not to retire after his 13-2drubbing from Stephen Maguire in the 2012 World Championship., a tournament that had to qualify for. Doyle felt he had more to offer, believing that he just lacked confidence. Ian felt that he was in his opinion, the greatest player that had ever graced the sport and could still achieve an eighth World Championship title. One of the main reasons that Stephen decided to accept a place back on the tour for two years.
Hendry, in his formidable years was clinical and ruthless when he played. Doyle helped drive that hunger out of him and to become fearless. This player had taken the early knocks but you can only become better with experience. He bust the pack at the earliest opportunity and stayed clear of protracted safety play with formidable results. However in the end, he had the yips and felt embarrassed when he lost to Robert Milkins in China, saying:
“The lowest was losing [to Robert Milkins] in China. It was such an embarrassment. In China, they called me the emperor of snooker but I kept losing in the first round. I broke down. It’s the only time I’ve cried from losing. Robert Milkins a journeyman, someone you should never lose to.”
Hendry believes that Ian Doyle controlled his life, steering him away from alcohol and drugs to lead a clean lifestyle in a positive way but the flip side was that he chose Stephen’s suits and almost suffocated him to the point of resentment. Doyle’s way was ruthless but he had Hendry over a barrel because he helped him in his stellar success. For years, Stephen was seen as a boring player, someone with no personality who won everything like his predecessor, Steve Davis.
Ian, also controlled the books, banking the winnings and paying Hendry a wage. Even now, the Scot is ribbed for being frugal, keeping his wallet firmly in his pocket. In a moment of madness at his height, Stephen described how he purchased an extravagant item:
“I remember spending £4,000 on a Versace leather jacket. Looking back, it still sends shivers down my spine”.
Stephen Hendry
In later life, Ian Doyle dodged a near-death experience after being given the all-clear from the hospital, his heart stopped beating for three minutes, believing he saw his deceased father. Fortunately, an ambulance crew saved him after a quick response from his wife and their first-aid trained neighbour, Craig Bryce. Doyle, a Grandad of ten, now leads a more sedentary life, devoting his time to charity work and local community affairs. Love him or loathe him, he was a Godfather of snooker and helped transform the careers of two of the greatest players of the game.
