PFA SHAKE-UP WILL END HUGE POWER WIELDED BY TAYLOR

THE PFA have started restructuring to make sure no one can ever wield colossal power again like outgoing chief executive Gordon Taylor.

He took charge back in 1981 and is the highest-paid union boss in the country, earning up to £2.2million a year.

The 75-year-old (above) is due to finally stand down at the next PFA annual general meeting, scheduled for November.

His successor, who will be elected by members, is set to be under much more scrutiny, following an in-depth, independent governance review.

The key findings are yet to be published after an assessment by Sport Resolutions, the not-for-profit body set up to help resolve disputes.

But the PFA have already started advertising for four non-executive directors to be “key to the transformation and restructuring process” following the completion of the review.

Mirror Sport understands they will form part of a new operational board recommended by the commission. This will include the chair and vice-chair of the players’ board, the chief executive and finance director.

Players up and down the country, who are PFA members, will get a vote in line with trade union rules to elect all the board, including the non-executive directors and chief executive.

It is part of a drive to ensure the PFA “achieves the highest standards of governance, transparency, accountability and independence in sport”.

The advert for non-executive directors stresses they are expected to “provide informed challenge and debate in relation to all aspects of the PFA’s activity”.

As part of the new operational board, they will be responsible for the oversight and strategy of the PFA and will delegate delivery to its chief executive.

It is initially scheduled to meet six times a year and their first priority is to line up Taylor’s successor for members to approve. But they are to also help draw up annual business plans and key performance indicators, with an emphasis on accountability and improved communication to members.

They will sit on the PFA enterprises board and at least one sub-committee as well.

The four non-executive directors will each earn £40,000 a year and be approved by a three-man selection panel chaired by Gary Neville (left), which includes ex-pro John Mousinho and PFA enterprises director Edward Canty.

It was almost two years ago in November 2018 that under-fire Taylor announced a review, following criticism, including from chairman Ben Purkiss.

More than 300 former players endorsed an open letter calling for reform, for Taylor to step down and for an election.

Families of former players with dementia criticised the PFA for not helping more.

Now, major change is looming after Taylor’s reign of almost four decades.