PFA working on defence of under-fire Gordon Taylor

PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor

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Giuseppe Muro21 November 2018

The Professional Footballers’ Association are planning to defend their beleaguered chief executive Gordon Taylor in the coming weeks.

Taylor is facing calls to stand down and is in dispute with the PFA chairman Ben Purkiss over his future.

An open letter calling for change at the players’ union has been backed by more than 200 current and former players but it is understood the PFA are working on a defence of Taylor.

One factor behind the growing calls for reform of the PFA is thought to be the large number of former players struggling with severe financial difficulties. A number of retired players have lost money on investments.

Former Fulham midfielder Danny Murphy has supported the call for an independent review of the PFA. There is also resentment among many over the £2.29million annual salary earned by Taylor.

Murphy told TalkSport: “I know, personally, players struggling with mental health, addiction, financial abuse.”

Taylor has yet to comment on the matter.