Big Wes PFA - The Times Today

[JohnnieFoxWalker]

It’s the first time in 40 years that there’s been a big shake-up of the PFA,” Wes Morgan, the Leicester City captain, says. “There are some big changes being made in terms of the way it is run. Moving forward, the PFA is going to be much more modern, diverse and transparent.”

And not before time, you might think, after three years of political infighting and power struggles that will finally bring the curtain down on the chief executive Gordon Taylor’s four-decade reign over the union next month.

As The Times reported this week, an independent QC-led review of the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) will finally be published in full when the new chief executive, Maheta Molango, and a new players’ board, which is due to be elected next month, is in place.

A more dynamic PFA, Morgan says, should play a leading role in tackling the game’s biggest issues — mental health, dementia, racism, social media abuse — affecting players, past and present. And Morgan, 37, who is standing for one of two places on the newly configured players’ board reserved for active Premier League players, is keen to play a part in shaping the future of a union that has offered him valuable support in recent years.

“A few years ago I sat down with Jason Lee [the PFA’s equalities education executive], we spoke about the direction I wanted to go in post-football, and he recommended some courses that would help me,” Morgan says. “The PFA has helped me along the way with what I want to do, and what I’m trying to accomplish, post-football.

“Coming to the end of your career you have options. I know lots of players who are happy to leave it all behind. Others want to stay in football in coaching or management. Some want to sit behind the camera, go down the punditry route. For me, the business of football is always something I’ve had a keen eye on. Before I turned professional I was studying business in college, and for the last few years I’ve been trying to get the necessary qualifications to be ready to step into that environment.”

The Jamaica international has gained a certificate in football business management from the Sports Business Institute Barcelona. He is a graduate of the On The Board programme developed by the Governance Forum and supported by the PFA. And in the past year he has been a key voice in discussions about project restart and efforts among players to support a message of antidiscrimination.

The Leicester captain, moreover, has a seat on the Premier League’s players advisory group, and the FA steering group which created the governing body’s widely adopted diversity code last year.

Morgan is determined to do more than just talk about tackling the disparity in BAME representation between playing and leadership roles in football. The statistics have not changed. A third of Premier League players are from a BAME background, yet the figure for coaches is about five per cent. There are only six permanent BAME managers at 92 clubs in the top four leagues in English football, and the lack of diversity in boardrooms is starker still. “I think from a key position in the PFA I could have more influence over how football’s leaders can become more representative of its workforce,” Morgan, who has been Leicester’s PFA representative for the past five years, says.

SPONSORED

However, the union’s enduring challenge, Morgan says, is engaging highly driven and, at the top level, highly paid young men and persuading them to consider the future. This matters, at all levels, because players who have taken advantage of the PFA’s services are much less likely to require its help in retirement, when myriad personal issues commonly arise.

“Is the PFA important to Premier League players? Yes. Do they engage as much? No,” Morgan admits. “At the top level players have agents and advisers who take care of a lot of the things players in the lower leagues might look to the PFA for help with.

“And in the Premier League, because the money that elite players earn is so high now, the idea of what they might do in their post-playing career often doesn’t really dawn on them until it’s too late. Another thing is that you can’t anticipate when your career is going to end. The golden age is 35, but it often doesn’t happen like that, for various reasons. So one of the things I’d definitely want to try to do is make players more aware of what services are available to them. Urge them to put things in place now rather than later.”

Molango, left, is the new PFA chief executive

ALAMY

Morgan, who has been suffering with a back injury since January, is approaching the end of his tenth season with the Foxes. While the 37-year-old remains an influential figure in a dressing room filled with blossoming young talent, the lights are fading on a career that began at his home-town club, Nottingham Forest, where he spent a decade before embarking on a remarkable journey with Leicester.

“From where Leicester City were when I joined, in the Championship, to where we are now, it’s absolutely incredible,” Morgan says. “When I first arrived there was so much ambition. We know the story — the promotion, the Great Escape, then winning the Premier League title — but the owners continued to invest, in terms of players, the new training ground — which is one of the best in the world — and continue to improve the club as a whole. I’ve been grateful to be a part of that journey, to help the club reach the heights that it has. Hopefully, though, it can continue.”

There have been discussions with Susan Whelan, the chief executive, about a role with Leicester when Morgan does decide to hang up his boots and the manager, Brendan Rogers, is also eager to keep the captain at the club. “My goal is to one day become a director of football,” Morgan says. “I know it will take time to build experience and knowledge to be ready for a role like that, but that’s my objective.”

Leicester, meanwhile, who lie in third place, have Champions League football in their sights and an FA Cup semi-final against Southampton to look forward to. Leicester, Morgan says, are determined to better last season’s achievements. “Last season we played Aston Villa in the semi-final of the Carabao Cup,” he says. “We believed, over two legs, we would be good enough to get to the final, and we didn’t. So we won’t be complacent, or look beyond doing the job against Southampton. They’ve beaten us a couple of times recently. We just need to concentrate on our own form, bring our best game, and we’ll have a real good chance to reach the final.”

And after falling at the final furlong in the race for the top four last season, can Leicester hold on this time? “That’s the objective,” Morgan says. “We know it’s not going to be easy. You’ve got West Ham, Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool all aiming for those spots. And we know we’ve got a tough run-in. But we’re in good form, and if we can keep everyone fit we’ve got a great chance. If we finish in the top four it would be an amazing achievement.”

Morgan’s influence on the pitch may be waning, but his value and stature as a leader continue to grow. “I’ve been in situations in football where I’ve had to make decisions, take control,” he says. “I’ve often been the person managers come to. And the responsibility of being a captain has given me the confidence to know that when I step into that new environment, I’m going to be more than ready.”

 

 

 

 

[Ric Flair]

What an absolute legend.

[King of Gipsy Lane]

Because of racist tropes many young BAME men like Wes never get a chance in the Corporate world especially if they are like him piecing together the education needed to open the doors, Wes will get a chance and you can see in this article he intends on using that to create a platform for others and effect real change going forward, he is a human being of immense standing, forget his footballing achievements it’s his leadership achievements he might actually be remembered for, love him even more this morning 😍

[Bert]

Love him. Greatest ever captain. 

[StanSP]

Hero. 

[JohnnieFoxWalker]

Got to be Birch's successor as club ambassador. 

[Tielemans63]

What a man. Good to hear that the club want to keep him if his application to the PFA role doesn't materialise - you'd think he'd be a great choice for that gig though. Whatever he does I'm sure he'll be superb at it.

[Mint23]

When he arrived I thought he was a poor signing.  I’d seen his mistakes in big games and thought he was league 1/championship at best but he just kept proving me wrong. He’s never let us down on the pitch, is clearly a huge influence on the young players at training and in the changing room but now you read articles like this one and he just gets better and better.  Whether his future off the field is with us or elsewhere I wish him all the best, I happily admit I was wrong at the beginning - I’ll even forgive him for having that Forest tattoo! - he sounds like he’s got big intentions on righting some of the wrongs that go on out there for young professionals in our sport and I’m proud to say he’s one of our own. 

[Hammo]

We wouldn’t have won the title without him.

 

Leicester City’s greatest ever captain. A bloody good defender. And a lovely, humble bloke too.

 

All power to you, big man.

 

 

[Corky]

Definitely would like him to stay in some capacity although I've said before that if his back is ok I wouldn't rule out him joining Pearson at Bristol City for one last career hurrah.

 

Seems a great bloke and speaks very well, another brilliant signing in the past decade.

[LC/FC]

O Captain. My Captain.

[Wasyls Pec Deck]

We could do a lot worse than have him in a back room role. Seems very switched on and a bit of a gentle giant type

[UpTheLeagueFox]

3 hours ago, Corky said:

I wouldn't rule out him joining Pearson at Bristol City for one last career hurrah.

Not sure we'll see Wes play again because of injury.

Edited 27 March 2021 by UpTheLeagueFox

[PhillippaT]

5 hours ago, Mint23 said:

When he arrived I thought he was a poor signing.  I’d seen his mistakes in big games and thought he was league 1/championship at best but he just kept proving me wrong. He’s never let us down on the pitch, is clearly a huge influence on the young players at training and in the changing room but now you read articles like this one and he just gets better and better.  Whether his future off the field is with us or elsewhere I wish him all the best, I happily admit I was wrong at the beginning - I’ll even forgive him for having that Forest tattoo! - he sounds like he’s got big intentions on righting some of the wrongs that go on out there for young professionals in our sport and I’m proud to say he’s one of our own. 

*Trying desperately to resist a Rick-roll* - I wonder if a Morgan-roll could be created?  

 

Here's hoping he can have the sort of influence you feel he can use best...

[The Blur]

From reading that article,  I would have loved to play under him.

 

I know there have been some moans about how modern football is going soft and lacks Roy Keane and Patrick Vieria types but football sometimes are an extension and a reflection of the society and in the modern times,  there have been a growing awareness around the issue between toxic masculinity and mental health which is positive.   Wes seems to be a perfect link between dominating/influential yet caring and compassionate character in the changing room.   Like I said,  I would have loved to play under his captaincy.

 

 

[Guest kristianity77]

Jason Lee as in pineapple on his head Jason Lee? 

[Ecdysiast]

8 hours ago, JohnnieFoxWalker said:

Got to be Birch's successor as club ambassador. 

I think that honour is going to be Emile's one day. Westley is destined for greater things....

[Jazzy_Jeff]

Definitely want him to remain at the club beyond his playing days. 
 

He epitomises captain, leader, legend more than JT ever did. 
 

What a man. 

[Tuna]

2 hours ago, kristianity77 said:

Jason Lee as in pineapple on his head Jason Lee? 

 

Yes.

 

Had a great career in the lower leagues and briefly managed Boston United.

[MPH]

3 hours ago, kristianity77 said:

Jason Lee as in pineapple on his head Jason Lee? 

 

apparently the constant mocking from opposition fans affected his mental health!

[Trav Le Bleu]

All I took from that graph is that, in recent years, the less Wes plays the better our league position.

[Vardinio'sCat]

I like the direction he is taking, building his experience and working to a long term plan.

[Crazy Kop Corner]

What a guy! 

 

If there are any statues flying around we need one of Wes - LEGEND 

[gw_leics772]

My quoting is not working... But my first thought (almost debunked by @UpTheLeagueFox[but predictable without the inside knowledge{which I thank you for}]).... is that it sounds like he will sign on as a player for another year, due to the role he has applied for.

for that reason alone I expect him to sign another year, maybe as a "player"/coach/insert any other position to further aid his progression to position of his choice in the future.

 

And fully deserved too. A true legend, and I expect him to be at Leicester for a long long time post retirement.

 

A New breed.

[Guest worth_the_wait]

42 minutes ago, Crazy Kop Corner said:

If there are any statues flying around we need one of Wes - LEGEND 

I'm all for statues.    The trouble is ... you never know who will be around in the future, and might want to pull them down.