Former Town skipper Jon Walters has applied to be the next chief executive of the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA).

Walters, 37, believes the organisation needs to modernise with current chief executive Gordon Taylor stepping down this year. Applications to succeed him close on February 19th with interviews in March. The membership will then make a choice from the leading candidates.

“I’m very passionate about the PFA,” Walters told The Times in a lengthy interview. “I feel I am the right man for the PFA because players can relate to me.

“I’ve played in every league. I’ve captained clubs, I’ve captained my country [Ireland], I’ve been involved on the management committee of the PFA. I like leading.”

Walters, who was with the Blues between 2007 and 2010 as well as a loan spell in 2018 at the end of his career, says he backed his fellow players in his previous PFA role and also defended himself at difficult moments in his career, including at Town.

“As a PFA management committee member, I stood up for players and that put me in a precarious position at certain clubs,” he adds.

“I’ve been frozen out in certain places. I asked to leave Ipswich [for Stoke] because I wanted to play in the Premier League and set my family up [financially].

“There was a frank exchange of views with Roy [Keane, the manager]. Things were said that weren’t right, completely below the belt, very personal, and because of that I wasn’t going to back down. I don’t get pushed over by people easily. I don’t get intimidated.”

Photo: Action Images

PositivelyPortman added 09:47 - Feb 13 Good luck Jon. I reckon that he'd be a perfect fit for this job.
8

Suffolkboy added 09:58 - Feb 13 Best of luck ,hope you're successful ! Well remember the ITFC ‘spat ‘ when RK indulged in double speak ,but sadly for him was virtually exposed as untrustworthy and unreliable ,a bad manager of men ; and though apparently a very good family man totally lacking in altruism and different altogether in his ‘professional ‘ guise ! Very best wishes J.W. COYB
6

Pendejo added 10:20 - Feb 13 Good luck with your candidacy
4

Edmundo added 11:27 - Feb 13 I think he'd be a great fit, but let's face it, the FA and Premiership want a person who is happy enough to keep quiet when told and to line his pockets in the process. Jon is, dare I say it, someone with too much integrity for football. Good luck though, and if you don't make it, please come to ITFC as our CEO!!
5

TheSelkirk added 11:31 - Feb 13 They might consider him a little too right wing .....
4

Radlett_blue added 12:26 - Feb 13 Why wouldn't he want the job, if you get Gordon Taylor's £2m annual salary and are also incapable of being removed, however bad you are at your job?
0

allezlesbleus added 14:12 - Feb 13 In his interviews, Jon has always come across well. Good luck to him, but as some others have mentioned, he may be too outspoken and the PFA might not want someone who doesn't always do what they are told.
1

Les57 added 14:28 - Feb 13 I agree with him about Keane, he was always a tit in my view
2

BluedanW added 12:16 - Feb 14 Funny thing is everyone took Jon Walters side, however Keane was actually trying to keep a player at Portman Road, which ultimately is what our fans want.
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls