PFA chair needs a club

HOPEFULLY 34-year-old defender Ben Purkiss finds a new club this summer after being released by Swindon, for he needs to remain as a professional footballer to continue as chairman of the Professional Footballers’ Association.

Purkiss, who made a brilliant speech at the PFA awards dinner, represents the biggest breath of fresh air in an organisation in which multimillionaire chief executive Gordon Taylor, 73, surrounds himself with devoted yes men.

Although committed to the PFA, Purkiss is the one strong character within that union and recognises that it is not enough to invest only £100,000 in head-injury research, as they did in the last financial year.

AT a time when football is deliberating whether the printed programme is still relevant in this digital age, the FA have continued with their tradition of producing hardback editions for all Royal Box guests at the FA Cup final. Meanwhile, Adrian Bevington, the former FA communications boss, has joined his beloved hometown club Middlesbrough as head of recruitment operations.

THE FA still have to explain how they will look after the 3G pitches they intend building for grassroots football with the £600m proceeds from selling Wembley. The proposal comes at a time when councils nationwide are cutting costs by no longer maintaining sports facilities. Even those on the FA in favour of off-loading the stadium are concerned about the maintenance of the pitches, which have a shelf life of seven years if not properly cared for.