In the razor-sharp realm of professional darts, where fortunes pivot on the whisper of a tungsten flight and careers soar or stutter in the blink of an eye, seismic shifts off the board often ripple as profoundly as any 180. Just days after teenage titan Luke Littler detonated the darts world by parting ways with his long-time management team, another PDC heavyweight has followed suit, severing ties with the same agency in a move that’s sparked whispers of a broader reckoning. Nathan Aspinall, the 33-year-old Stockport sensation and reigning world number three, announced his departure from ZXF Sports Management on October 14, 2025, echoing Littler’s high-profile split and underscoring the high-stakes game of autonomy in a sport exploding with global appeal.
Aspinall’s decision, revealed through a heartfelt Instagram post from ZXF founder Martin Foulds, caps an eight-year partnership that propelled the unassuming thrower from modest beginnings to major glory. Signed in 2017 amid the hum of local leagues, Aspinall credits ZXF with engineering his ascent: a breakthrough 2019 UK Open triumph, a runner-up finish at the 2020 World Grand Prix, and a quartet of Players Championship titles that cemented his status as a floor specialist extraordinaire. Under Foulds’ guidance, Aspinall navigated the PDC’s cutthroat circuit, amassing over £1 million in earnings and forging a reputation for his metronomic 100-plus averages and unflappable demeanor. Yet, as Littler’s meteoric rise—capped by his fourth major crown of the year at the World Grand Prix just last weekend—illuminated the pitfalls of rapid fame, Aspinall sought his own path forward.
The announcement unfolded with poignant grace, Foulds penning a tribute that blended professional respect with deep personal bonds. “As we now part ways in a management capacity, it doesn’t feel like an ending at all. It’s just the next chapter—one built purely on friendship, respect, and everything we’ve shared along the way,” Foulds wrote, his words laced with the warmth of shared triumphs and trials. He recounted the “amazing times” forged over pub pints and pressure-packed finals, from Aspinall’s electric 2019 upset over Gerwyn Price to his gritty 2023 World Championship semi-final run, where he fell to eventual champion Michael Smith in a thriller. “Here’s to the memories we’ve made, and to many more still to come,” Foulds concluded, a nod to the enduring camaraderie that transcends contracts. Aspinall, ever the stoic northerner, responded in kind on social media: “Forever grateful.” Two words that spoke volumes—a quiet thunderclap of appreciation for the scaffolding that lifted him skyward, now dismantled as he charts solo skies.
This exodus from ZXF isn’t isolated; it’s the aftershock of Littler’s own bombshell, dropped a week prior amid the buzz of the World Grand Prix in Leicester. The 18-year-old “Nuke,” who inked with ZXF at just 13 in 2020, had been shepherded through his prodigious ascent by Foulds—from junior circuit dominance to that unforgettable 2024 Alexandra Palace final, and onward to world championship glory in January 2025. Littler’s split, announced via a simple social media post, brimmed with gratitude: “I want to say a massive thank you to ZXF Management and especially Martin, for everything they’ve done for me so far in my career.” He hinted at behind-the-scenes machinations, later confiding post-victory over Humphries, “No-one knows what’s been going on behind the scenes… But it was just the right time.” Speculation swirled of megadeals with powerhouses like Matchroom Sport or even influencer agencies, but Littler quashed them, opting instead for a family-led setup bolstered by Garry Plummer at Target Darts—his equipment sponsor since age 12.
Target’s swift swoop to formalize Littler’s management on October 14—a surprise pivot for a brand more synonymous with precision barrels than PR wizardry—only amplified the drama. “Target Darts is pleased to confirm that it will be taking on the management of Luke Littler, building on the long-standing and successful relationship that has been in place since Luke joined Team Target at the age of 12,” the company stated, praising his “professionalism, focus, and natural talent.” Littler echoed the sentiment: “Target has been part of my career from the very beginning and I’ve always had a great relationship with everyone there. I’m really happy to have their backing as I continue to focus on my game and prepare for the big tournaments ahead.” It’s a symbiotic alliance: Target gains a marquee face for their wares, while Littler secures trusted counsel amid eye-watering contracts that could balloon his earnings past £100 million, factoring in endorsements, documentaries, and the “at home with the Littlers” allure.
Aspinall’s move feels like a kindred echo, timed mere hours after Littler’s Target reveal. The “Asp” has long thrived in Littler’s shadow this year, their contrasting styles—Littler’s explosive flair against Aspinall’s surgical consistency—fueling epic on-stage duels. Both Warrington-adjacent lads (Aspinall hails from nearby Stockport), they’ve shared ZXF’s roster with talents like Chris Dobey, navigating the PDC’s gilded grind together. Aspinall’s recent form underscores his readiness for independence: a last-16 finish at the World Grand Prix, where he dispatched qualifier Cameron Menzies before bowing to Humphries, and a string of ProTour deep runs that keep him firmly in the world No. 3 perch. Off the board, he’s balanced fatherhood with a burgeoning media presence, his dry wit shining in Sky Sports banter. Yet, whispers suggest ZXF’s stretched resources—managing soccer stars like James Maddison alongside darts’ elite—may have strained focus, prompting Aspinall’s leap. Like Littler, he’ll lean on family and darts insiders, with Target’s orbit a tantalizing prospect given their Littler ties.
This double departure reverberates through darts’ ecosystem, a sport ballooning under Sky’s lights and global streams. ZXF, once a PDC powerhouse, now grapples with a talent hemorrhage, its roster thinned but not toothless—Dobey remains a bulwark. Pundits like Wayne Mardle muse on the perils of fame’s velocity: “Luke is monstrous, he’s huge, he’s a commodity… They’ll be getting good advice elsewhere.” For Aspinall and Littler, it’s empowerment amid empire-building. Aspinall eyes the Grand Slam of Darts next month, hungry for a first TV major since 2019, while Littler—despite a rare youth semis stumble to Beau Greaves—covets Humphries’ No. 1 crown before Ally Pally’s tinsel.
In this whirlwind, “forever grateful” isn’t mere platitude; it’s the bridge from past scaffolds to self-forged futures. As autumn leaves swirl toward winter’s showdowns, Aspinall’s exit isn’t farewell—it’s a fierce hello to uncharted throws. In darts’ grand tapestry, where loyalty meets ambition, these splits stitch bolder patterns, reminding us that true legends craft their own arrows. The oche awaits, and with it, legacies etched in independence.
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