Express & Star

Dawn Astle begs the PFA to help oust chief Gordon Taylor

The daughter of former Albion and England star Jeff Astle has ‘begged’ members of the Professional Footballers’ Association to support chairman Ben Purkiss’s attempt to oust chief executive Gordon Taylor.

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Dawn Astle (AMA)

Dawn Astle, whose father died in 2002 of a degenerative brain disease, has clashed with Taylor over the union’s response to the growing evidence which suggests that disease is linked to heading the ball.

The PFA, on the other hand, issued a statement on Friday questioning Purkiss’s right to union membership, and therefore his eligibility to be chairman, as he is not under contract at Walsall.

Astle said: “I would ask, no, beg, all PFA members to fully support what Ben is trying to do.

“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.”