November 19 – An open letter calling on the chief executive of England’s Professional Footballers’ Association, Gordon Taylor (pictured), to step down after 37 years in charge has been endorsed by more than 200 current and former players.
It follows PFA chairman Ben Purkiss calling for an independent review into the functioning of the players’ union.
Purkiss, a 34-year-old defender at third-tier Walsall, was elected chairman last November and is keen for the union to modernise.
“I have a duty to act in the best interests of the PFA. Sometimes you have to make a stand for what is right. Football is rapidly evolving, players are rapidly evolving and the PFA needs to evolve too,” he said. “Players past, present and future need a PFA for the modern player.”
Purkiss is currently a non-contract player and the PFA have been advised that this means he cannot remain chairman. By contrast, Taylor is reportedly paid an eye-watering £2.29 million a year.
“You may have seen that Ben Purkiss (PFA Chairman) has called for an independent review of the PFA,” says the letter according to British media reports.
“We are backing his call and would like to also call for a fair and democratic election of a new PFA chief executive. Throughout our careers we have never had a vote and this has to change. The PFA needs to be open and accessible to all.
“Every player should know when and how to vote and the PFA must be run by people willing to be open, transparent and democratic. We call for Gordon Taylor to step down and allow the PFA to modernise and evolve.”
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