TODAY:

PFA SUPREMO DIDN’T CARE ABOUT DEMENTIA STRUGGLE SAYS ASTLE’S DAUGHTER

GORDON TAYLOR has been accused of “letting down a whole generation of footballers”.

Dawn Astle (right, top), daughter of former West Brom and England centre-forward Jeff Astle, is backing calls for a full independent review of the Professional Footballers’ Association – with chief executive Taylor at the centre of the storm.

Striker Astle died of dementia and his daughter is angry that the PFA did not do more to support her father and carry out more research into footballers suffering from the condition. Taylor earned £2.2million last year, in contrast to the PFA finally putting £100,000 into research between the links of dementia and the game.

She is now backing PFA chairman Ben Purkiss in his calls for a full independent review of the

PFA and for Taylor’s position to be up for re-election.

It is believed 73-year-old Taylor (right, below) should have to stand for re-election every five years.

But he has been unchallenged and in power for 37 years.

Dawn Astle said: “I implore, I beg, any former footballer, any current player, to support Ben in what he’s trying to do with the PFA. “The lack of empathy, common decency and the PFA doing anything with regards to dementia in football is so shameful. “Gordon Taylor let down a whole generation of footballers, not just my dad and my family, but a whole generation of footballers. They’re dying.

“The PFA needs reform and it needs to have people in charge who really care about the most important issues facing players, and dementia is one of those.” Robbie Savage and Ian Wright are among former stars supporting a campaign – alongside more than 300 players – backing 34-year-old Purkiss in his push for change.

But Taylor did get some support from ex-Chelsea winger Pat Nevin, who insisted the PFA does not get all of the credit it deserves.

Nevin said: “I’m not here to defend or support Gordon – he is paid a large salary and that will always be a stick to hit him with – but I know the union does a lot more than it gets the credit for.

“I think this is typical of public life. If you do 25 good things and one bad thing, you can bet which thing it is you will be reading about.” Ted MacDougall scored a record nine goals for Bournemouth in their 11-0 FA Cup win over Margate

1961: The shortest British title fight on record took place in Nottingham. Defending lightweight champion Dave Charnley knocked out David Hughes 40 seconds into their title fight. A record 15 footballers were sent off, 12 in FA Cup matches and three in the league.

2015: Eddie Jones was confirmed as England’s first ever overseas head coach in rugby union. The Australian agreed a four-year deal, starting in December.

Andy Murray ensured he would remain world No.1 into 2017 with a 6-3 6-4 victory over Novak Djokovic at the ATP World Tour Finals in London.