How players’ leader has shrugged off previous controversies

November 2001

Taylor threatened a players’ strike that would have brought all four top divisions to a halt in a bitter row with the Premier League over PFA funding. Taylor wanted a five per cent slice of the PL’S TV revenue. An acrimonious – and highly personal – war of words with Premier League chief Richard Scudamore eventually ended with a grudging peace deal which gave the PFA around 2.5 per cent of the TV cash.

April 2013

Taylor is forced to defend the decision to book stand-up Reginald D Hunter for the PFA’S annual award night after the controversial black American comedian used the word ‘n-----’ in his act. Clarke Carlisle, then PFA chairman, admitted that it had been “a huge mistake” to hire Hunter. Taylor disagreed, saying: “I think there were a few raised eyebrows but that is the sort of thing you can’t control.”

March 2017

Dawn Astle, daugher of Jeff Astle, who suffered brain trauma caused by heading footballs before his death in 2002, walked out of a meeting with Taylor to discuss the issue. “I feel bitterly, bitterly let down,” she said.

February 2018

Taylor faced a backlash after it was revealed that he was paid £2.29million in 2016-17, including a £770,000 bonus. Critics contrasted it with the £100,000 the PFA contributed towards head injury research.

November 2018

Taylor comes under renewed pressure after PFA chairman Ben Purkiss, who has campaigned for better mental health provision for footballers, calls for an independent review into the organisation. More than 300 high-profile current and former players, including Ian Wright, Robbie Savage and Chris Sutton, join the revolt by signing an open letter calling for Taylor’s resignation.