(Photo: Reuters)
By Jonny Leighfield
Swindon Town defender Ben Purkiss has been elected chairman of the Professional Footballers' Association.
Purkiss, 33, takes over from Sheffield FC player Ritchie Humphreys as the head of the football players' union.
“I'm really looking forward to doing my best for players up and down the country,” the former Port Vale defender said.
“I've been part of the management committee for five years and supported Ritchie, so I'm not coming in blind.
“I understand the scale of the role and I'm not daunted by it,” said Purkiss.
Former chairmen include Garth Crooks, Pat Nevin, Dean Holdsworth, Chris Powell and Clarke Carlisle.
The PFA's new management committee is made up of 19 current professional players across the men's and women's game including England women's captain Steph Houghton, Burnley's Tom Heaton and Aston Villa's Mile Jedinak.
The PFA states its arms are to “protect, improve and negotiate the conditions, rights and status of all professional players by collective bargaining agreements.”