The euphoria of a classic World Championship final, which drew a 7.5m peak viewing figure, exceeding that for the FA Cup final, has quickly given way to the ongoing internecine strife.

The board of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) has convened an extraordinary general meeting on Thursday to seek an amendment allowing members to be paid. Its supporters say paying directors would attract figures like Sir Rodney Walker, chairman of UK Sport, on to the board.

Opponents find it inappropriate that a board which has brought the WPBSA to an expected loss of more than £2m by its June 30 year end should seek to be paid from dwindling resources. A two-thirds majority is required for change. Two other egms, whose proposals require only a simple majority, have been requisitioned by groups of players. Their dates have still to be fixed.

One calls for the removal from the board of Tony Murphy, a director for six months, who some hold responsible for the breakdown in talks between WPBSA and 110 sport, the event and management company which wants to bring new investment to next season's circuit from its backers, Warburg Pincus, the City finance house.

The second is to seek the membership's approval for putting the 110 sport's proposed deal directly to the players rather than to the board.