SNOOKER star Tony Knowles jabs the television screen with his finger as he watches world championship action from the Crucible in Sheffield. He demonstrates which cushions need to be hit and I nod, trying to pretend that I would do the same. It does not seem all that long since he was always on the television himself and frequently in the tabloids.

But one of Bolton's most famous sons, now 42, has been mostly out of the public eye in the last few years.

Once ranked number two in the world, he estimates that he is now something like 104.

Business difficulties and a loss of confidence took the edge off his game and he has seen a succession of young stars reach the same heights he did after qualifying as a professional in 1980.

These days, however, he feels he is moving into a new phase of his life and some of the old confidence is returning.

"I don't want to look back," he told me when we chatted in Tee K's, the Horwich wine bar, snooker and night club operation in Chorley New Road which bears his name.

He revealed that the business is in the process of being sold to another company which will run it in premises staying in his ownership.

"It will leave me free to play the pro circuit next year," he said with obvious enthusiasm.

After playing in the subsidiary UK competition he has now re-gained his place on the main world tour in 1998-1999.

He believes he is playing reasonably well and capable of regaining some of the ground he has lost over the last 10 years - if he applies himself.

He hopes to be in the top 16 in two years - and back playing on television rather than watching the action at home.

There is certainly nothing wrong with his assessment of current players.

His prediction that John Higgins would be the next world champion came true a few days later.

What else?

He will be continuing his snooker exhibition match activities through Tony Knowles Promotions - he has just flown back from an event in Dubai - and there is also his wine bar, Churchill's, in Bowness.

Charity events including celebrity golf matches take up some of his time in the summer.

Eventually I get round to asking about his love life and, not surprisingly, bachelor Tony is not very forthcoming.

"I have a girl friend," he says, declining to elaborate.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.