STUART Kellett insists he will not turn back on a quest to return to the game’s professional ranks after failing to graduate from Q School.

The Northwich darter could not capture one of 19 Professional Dart Corporation (PDC) tour cards up for grabs during four days of competition at Wigan.

It marked a third attempt by the 37-year-old to claim back a place he gave up in 2016 but he told the Guardian it is unlikely to be the last.

“I’m gutted but I’ll carry on trying,” he vowed.

“It gets harder each time to fight on but I’m lucky to have great support and that spurs me on.”

He saved his best run until last, reaching the last 64 at Wigan on Sunday following wins against Colin Littlecott (5-3), Ian Hurley (5-0) and two-time Lakeside champion Scott Waites (5-4).

Adam Huckvale halted his progress.

Kellett, who plays for Rudheath in the Cheshire Men’s Super League, had seen his hopes recede after losing his first match on each of the previous two days.

A 5-2 reverse against Royden Lam on Friday was followed by a 5-3 defeat to Jason Cullen 24 hours later.

He had started his campaign in encouraging fashion on Thursday when he eliminated Tom Lonsdale and Robert Collins after a deciding leg before succumbing to Conan Whitehead.

Kellett said: “I never felt comfortable all the way through and my performances reflected that.

“I couldn’t seem to relax and perhaps tried a bit too hard.

“I didn’t play badly, just not as well as I expected.”

He will return to Wigan this weekend when the PDC’s Challenge Tour – a second-tier competition open to players who did not win a tour card at Q School – gets underway.

It promises to be a gruelling couple of days with four tournaments, two each day, scheduled across Saturday and Sunday.

However that is nothing new because he has been a regular on the tour in each the past two seasons.

Kellett said: “It’s a shame there isn’t a bit more time to try and build up my confidence but that’s the way it is.”

After that he plans to try and claim a spot at the UK Open via one of the Rileys amateur qualifiers.