Gordon Taylor: PFA chief accused of 'lining his own pockets' and having 'no shame' by daughter of Baggies legend Jeff Astle

Dawn Astle said the PFA chairman has 'no shame' and should look at the real issues of football instead of 'lining his own pocket'. It has been revealed that Taylor was paid more than 20 times the amount his union gave to research into brain injuries in football.

Taylor's £2.2million last season included a bonus of £770,000. It was nearly double what he was paid the season before.

By contrast, the PFA spent £100,000 on research into head injuries in football during the same period.

Dawn, claimed the issue it is indicative of Taylor's mismanagement of the PFA and believes it is time the 73-year-old stepped down from a role he has held for almost 40 years.

Dreadful

"It's soul destroying really," she told the Express & Star. "But I guess it doesn't really surprise me because this man seems to have no shame in lining his own pockets when there's so many former players in need.

"It's dreadful. I'd like to know what he does to earn his £770,000 bonus.

"I suppose he won't have any of those worries really when he finally retires because he's got private medical care. It's a disgrace."

Taylor is believed to be the highest paid union boss in the world and his salary equates to roughly £44,000-a-week, which is more than many footballers are on in the Premier League.

The Astle family have been campaigning for years to get the PFA to help fund research into head injuries after Baggies legend Jeff was found to have been killed by the impact of heading footballs aged just 59.

Although the PFA have now given £100,000 to the cause, Dawn remains unconvinced by their motives.

Real issues

"They haven't done that out of the goodness of their heart, they've done it because they were cornered by football fans," she said.

"Don't get me wrong, the research is great, but people need help now. When they're telling me and my sister they haven't got enough money to help, if he wasn't on a massive salary, then they could afford it.

"I've been saying it for a long time, it's time he went. He needs to look at the real issues of football instead of lining his pockets and surrounding himself with his cronies."

Members of the Digital, Culture, Media & Sport select committee have called for the PFA to review Taylor's salary.

Labour MP Ian Lucas told The Daily Telegraph: "“People have had enough of salaries at this level.

“At a time when, real wages in this country haven’t increased since 2004, I think your average football supporter will be appalled.

“It’s time that the PFA looked at the situation. I really think they should be looking a bit more closely at the arrangements that are involved.”

Former Chelsea and England full-back Graeme Le Saux labelled it 'absolutely scandalous'.

Gordon Taylor has not responded to a request for comment by the Express & Star.