PFA charity to review links with players’ union

The charity arm of the Professional Footballers’ Association will review its links with the union as it prepares for life after Gordon Taylor and the organisation’s biggest overhaul in a generation.

The process for appointing a new chief executive has begun following the completion of an independent review by Sport Resolutions and, with an investigation by the Charity Commission also ongoing, the end of Taylor’s 42-year reign as chairman and chief executive is finally in sight.

New non-executive directors are expected to be appointed imminently and they will lead the search for Taylor’s replacement, which could then be confirmed at an annual general meeting later this year.

New PFA Charity accounts have also been circulated and, as well as a breakdown of Taylor’s annual union remuneration, which again topped £2 million including his salary, bonus and benefits, they reveal that major structural change is being considered.

The accounts state that trustees are “in the process of reviewing the Charity’s ongoing arrangements with the union with a view to determining whether the continued relationship is in the best interests of the charity”.

As well as Taylor’s pay, it was revealed that the director of finance, Darren Wilson, received £345,516 in salary, bonus and benefits, including pension contributions.

The PFA did not answer specific questions yesterday about the accounts but said that it was “taking forward a number of actions highlighted as part of the independent review process”. It added that “the independent review will play an important role in helping to set the future structure and direction of the PFA”.