LONDON (AFP) - "As the Premier League is televised live I'm afraid that we will be sticking to our dates and insisting that the four competing players on the Thursday night duly honour their contracts.

Several top players are set to miss the circuit's newest tournament in Bahrain because of a clash of dates.

The Bahrain Championship, organised by governing body World Snooker, runs from November 9-15. But two Premier League matches - promoted by Barry Hearn's Matchroom - are taking place at the same time as the new tournament.

The clash means John Higgins, Steve Davis, Mark Selby and Ding Junhui would face legal action from Hearn if they were to break their contracts.

"I am very disappointed and I can't understand why World Snooker hasn't discussed dates with us," said Hearn.

"Our dates for the Premier League were set in April of this year following consultation with World Snooker, venues were booked and the seven competing players were contracted in May.

"It's a shame that World Snooker made no effort to avoid conflicting schedules and will subsequently be losing four top players from their event.

"I don't imagine that the players concerned will be too happy either."

Pat Mooney, manager of two-time world champion Higgins, said: "John is contracted to play in the Premier League and intends to honour his contract but we will look at the legal position with regards to his ranking points as he will be disadvantaged by not going to Bahrain."