Taylor hopes players ask for help

29 November 2011 15:46

Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor has urged players to ask for help with any issues which concern them.

It has emerged that in the wake of Wales manager Gary Speed's death at the weekend five players contacted the Sporting Chance clinic.

"It is fair to say Gary's death has prompted them to ask for help," the clinic's chief executive Peter Kay told the Daily Express.

Taylor said the PFA, in conjunction with associated partners, regularly helped out their members but the greatest hurdle was often making the first step.

"We have players all the time who come to us needing help. It is part of our job," he told Press Association Sport. "The delicate thing is making sure everyone is aware and they can have confidence with the confidentiality element.

"It does need them to have the courage to ask for help and when they do that it makes it easier to break through the barrier."

Taylor said the death of Speed, whom sources have confirmed was found hanged at his home in Cheshire, had brought into focus the fact that those involved in football were not immune from the pressures people faced every day.

"It has brought into people's minds the problems footballers deal with," he added. "I want people to know there is a support and counselling system there because we want to do all we can to prevent things like this happening again.

"We have a very close liaison with - and subsidise - the Sporting Chance clinic and we also have trained PFA counsellors. Only this season we brought out a booklet on mental health issues and different problems.

"We have been working for some time on issues of depression and mental health and other, addictive, problems. This is not something which is happening just now, it is something we have been addressing."

Source: PA