Fraser Wishart is spearheading the establishment of a new footballers' union in Scotland which it is hoped will revolutionise key aspects of the professional game north of the border.
The new association is to be known as PFA Scotland and will effectively replace the Scottish Professional Footballers' Association (SPFA), which is now likely to be dissolved following the resignation of all its office bearers.
Wishart stood down from his role as SPFA chief executive on June 4 and will take on the same role within the new association, though decision-making will be made by the players who make up its management committee.
Significantly, PFA Scotland will be affiliated to the English PFA, whose chief executive, Gordon Taylor, was in Glasgow yesterday to endorse the new venture. The PFA carries considerable clout south of the border and its backing is a key factor in the potential success of PFA Scotland, which yesterday confirmed David Weir, the Rangers defender, as a founder member and Falkirk's Jack Ross as its inaugural chairman.
"We now have our own autonomous association run by players for players, but we also have the back-up of the PFA down south," said Wishart.
"Gordon Taylor and the PFA will underwrite PFA Scotland initially but the plan is in place to be self-sufficient. If you have the support of the main players then you can do most things.
"Over the last couple of years I've represented players in a couple of high-profile cases and got good messages back from them. I think we will be able to galvanise support. It's possible to attract 100% membership. We've got to aim for that."
Wishart established the new association after becoming frustrated at the restrictions imposed by being a part of parent body, the GMB union. "GMB have been very supportive over the last 25-30 years," said Wishart. "But one of the reasons why I left the SPFA was the GMB's rules and regulations don't cater for the vision of a players' union that I wanted. We have been trying to work in partnership with the PFA for 15-20 years and this seemed the ideal opportunity."
A spokesman for GMB gave his blessing to the rival union. "Anyone who wishes to join the new union can do so with our best wishes but anyone who wishes to remain with us can be assured we will continue to represent them to the best of our ability," he said.
PFA Scotland will follow the example of its English counterpart in trying to open up new revenue sources and expand services on offer to members. Down south, the PFA currently receives a share of television money and Wishart hopes to hold talks with Scottish football's governing bodies with a view to establishing a similar arrangement.
"Gordon Taylor has spoken about the way that they use funds they get from TV money and certainly that is something that I will look at in the medium term, to try and persuade the authorities the players are entitled to a share," he added. "The players are the actors, the people who sell the game and who do the interviews after."
But Wishart denied a slice of the TV money will further line footballers' pockets; instead, the aim would be to support more altruistic services.
"The PFA put it all back into the game in terms of insurance policies and group pension schemes. I'm keen to get players out into the community and I will be liaising with the Scottish parliament to that end. If players say something, kids will listen. In the meantime I will be going out and engaging with Gordon Smith and the SPL and the SFL and letting them know what we can offer."
The new union will also offer player agency services, and Wishart added: "Over recent months I was contacted by a number of players and one manager to negotiate their contracts but I couldn't do it within the previous structure."
Taylor is convinced the professional game would improve if more footballers were represented by the new union.
"We wouldn't have had the inquiry and Lord Stevens' report if all the players had been looked after by our association because we do have to be transparent," he said. "We have had many clubs who are so much happier because we are dealing with their players."
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