Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Professional Footballers Association chief executive Gordon Taylor wants modern football to show money is not its sole driving force, as he fears the game is in danger of “losing its soul”.
Three days out from the start of the new season but after a summer of more international disappointment - England's three teams at international tournaments all flopped - Taylor has raised concerns that football may have its priorities wrong.
Taylor was speaking after visiting former player Gary Parkinson who is recovering from a stroke, and he claimed the ex-Middlesbrough man's plight had made him think about what is important in football.
"He had a bad stroke, I saw the way his family had looked after him and the way football responded," Taylor told talkSPORT.
"It is about that. I was making the point that I don't want people thinking it's all about money, where money is the only gauge of success.
"I think the game is in danger of losing its soul because I think about youngsters playing football, having the facilities, aspiring to be like heroes and we're not working hard enough on that."
With England's Under-20 and Under-21 sides returning home from their respective tournaments with little to shout about, several questions have again been asked as to why the Three Lions continue to fail on the big stage.
Taylor did not blame the players and cited a need for a change in approach at club level in order to achieve in the future.
"There is so much demand for instant success, instant teams, and from that point of view no great stability. Without that, how are you going to develop players?" he added.
"It's the patience you need to put a youngster in, take him out, put him in for a bit longer. You can't expect youngsters at 17, 18, 19 to stay there, they will burn out."
PA
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments