Taylor to step down as PFA chief executive

Gordon Taylor is set to step down as Professional Footballers' Association chief executive officer .

 Taylor,  75-year-old has held the role of chief executive since 1981 and a letter announcing his resignation was sent to members on Wednesday afternoon.

In 2019, the PFA commenced a "full and open review" into its finances. This review - first announced in November 2018 - was completed in July which came following intense criticism of the players' union.

The year's AGM will take place on Thursday, where members will vote on a new governance structure in which the outgoing management committee would be replaced by a players' board and an operational board.

The board would oversee the day-to-day running of the union.

"As I announced at our previous AGM, now that the independent review process has completed, I too will step down, by the end of the current season," Taylor wrote.

"A new chief executive will be elected following the recruitment procedure recommended by the independent review, and we have already made substantial progress in that direction. I will of course be available in the future whenever needed to support the PFA."

Taylor is credited with negotiating the PFA's biggest source of income - around £25m per year from the Premier League.

But  recently,  the PFA has come under more scrutiny around the issue of dementia, which is a growing concern for former players and the subject of fury from some over a perceived lack of action and support by the PFA.