TSN have announced the launch of a tour made up of a minimum of 10 events that would include tournaments in Europe and the Far East next year.

The reintroduction of the World Cup, last played for and won by Scotland four years ago, also features in their plans and TSN say prize money will be increased by 40%.

New talent will also be offered greater opportunities to breakthrough onto the world stage with more feeder tournaments set to support the major events.

"Myself and the directors of the World Snooker Association have had meetings with TSN and their backers Warburg Pincus," said McKenzie.

"But we have yet to receive any detailed proposals about a new world snooker tour."

Bright future

McKenzie was also quick to point out the strength of the sport's immediate future thanks to new six- and four-year contracts with BBC and BSkyB respectively.

"Our tour is already global and we are increasing the opportunities for overseas players to join the tour.

"We have in place a top-level executive management team that has already put the WPBSA in a sound financial position.

"We are now actively seeking business partners and new sponsors for the future."

TSN claim they are not trying to form a breakaway circuit and that their plans are "made with the support of international snooker associations including the International Billiards and Snooker Federation and the Asian Confederation of Billiard Sports".

"Snooker's almost total reliance on support from tobacco companies is a key factor in its recent decline and it seems certain that continued reliance on the industry will mean a bleak future for the sport," said a TSN statement.

TSN backers Warburg Pincus who have already committed �10million to the project and that is a figure that the WSA would dearly welcome themselves.

Four of this season's eight ranking tournaments are without sponsors and three of those that are backed are supported by Imperial Tobacco.

The UK Championship is also searching for a new sponsor after Liverpool Victoria's deal expired following last Sunday's final.