Steve Davis has claimed that Ronnie O'Sullivan's latest retirement warning and admission that he returned to the game for money could be seen as "disrespectful".
O'Sullivan revealed on Wednesday that this year's World Championship could be his final tournament.
Six-time world champion Davis told BBC Sport: "We know full well that Ronnie O'Sullivan's interviews are a bit like the British weather; they're changeable.
"But there's a dilemma for the snooker fan. They love what comes off the end of his cue; they sometimes hate what comes out of his mouth because it is sometimes disrespectful to snooker.
"We'd love Ronnie O'Sullivan to be playing more snooker, not less."
O'Sullivan faces Judd Trump in the World Championship semi-finals on Thursday.