PFA are set to unveil former Brighton forward Maheta Molango as chief executive

Maheta Molango is to become the new chief executive of the Professional Footballers’ Association in a left-field appointment which has stunned many of the union’s members – and current incumbent Gordon Taylor could be gone as early as April.

The little-known 38-year-old, a qualified lawyer, hails from Switzerland but played a handful of matches in England’s lower leagues between 2004 and 2007. Ahead of his sacking last year, he was chief executive of Spanish outfit Real Mallorca.

Taylor, who earns around £2m a year, has in the role since 1981. It is understood his contract runs until late-June. However, should Molango express a desire to start in the near future, the change could go through following April’s Annual General Meeting.

Molango, who will earn £500,000-a-year, fought off competition from the likes of PFA chairman Ben Purkiss and ex-Everton player Gareth Farrelly, who both made the latter stages of the process.

Applicants were sifted through by a recruitment agency Savannah, who carried out interviews and drew up a shortlist. 

The PFA’s new four non-executive directors, Darren Hardman, Trevor Johnson, Ebru Koksal and Geoff Thompson, who were announced in December, then carried out final interviews before settling on Molango who is said to have spoken well.

The move has raised eyebrows across the game, given a perceived lack of experience. However, insiders say the panel was keen on bringing a ‘freshness’ to the organisation and the fact Molango was very much seen as coming in from the outside stood him in good stead.

Molango played six times for Brighton and had loan spells with Oldham Athletic and Lincoln City. He studied law in Madrid, and has practiced in Spain and in the United States.

Following two promotions with Mallorca, Molango was sacked with the team bottom of La Liga. Two weeks later, he was reported in Spain to have been questioned as part of a money-laundering investigation into Albanian agent Fali Ramadani, who has been charged with a number of offences. Molango has not faced any charges.

Of his Mallorca departure, Molango told UH Deportes last April: ‘It was not a traumatic exit, far from it. 

Outgoing Gordon Taylor is preparing to step down from the role which he has held since 1981

‘It was a matter of having different points of view on key issues, when you have spent four very beautiful years at a club I think it is not good to wear yourself out. Both they and I publicly have said that. I am very grateful for the opportunity, I think there is no team that has made a relegation and two promotions in a row. 

‘It was a matter of having a different vision of the future of the club.’ 

Molango was one of six football figures in a recent Amazon series covering a season and – following his departure – was subsequently filmed watching the team get relegated from the stands.