The PFA refused to cover costs of my life-saving heart operation, says Aston Villa legend Ken McNaught

The PFA refused to cover costs of my life-saving heart operation, says Aston Villa legend Ken McNaught
Aston Villa legend Ken McNaught has revealed the Professional Footballers Association REFUSED to help pay for a life-saving operation after he was diagnosed with a serious heart condition.The 63-year-old former defender joined talkSPORT to join the growing debate about the future of the PFA and its under-fire chief executive Gordon Taylor.Taylor has been urged to resign from his post after 37 years in charge, amid claims the union one of the wealthiest in the country are not offering adequate support to its members.And McNaught, a member of the mighty Aston Villa team which won the European Cup, European Super Cup and English first division title in the early 1980s, joined talkSPORT to explain how he felt let down by the PFA when he was left facing a huge medical bill.2

Ken McNaught (top row, centre) celebrates Aston Villa’s 1982 European Cup triumph

In 2015, McNaught was diagnosed with a serious heart condition which required an aortic root and valve replacement, eventually having the operation in February 2016.After a fight, the PFA paid for an initial MRI scan but when it was confirmed he was facing a major operation, they refused to help cover the costs.Speaking to talkSPORT host Jim White, the Villa legend said: I contacted the PFA to try and have the MRI scan done sooner than with the NHS. It cost 1050 in total. I thought the PFA would cover that because thats the reason why they were set up.

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I had the MRI and the result was I had to have a major heart operation and I expected the PFA to pay for it, but sadly things dragged on and on and basically they more or less said they werent going to cover it.Eventually they paid the bill for the MRI, but I was told the operation would cost 37,500. I contracted the PFA and was told there was no way they were going to cover that.They were used to knee and hip ops but I said, youre taking about someones life here.But no, they wouldnt cover the cost of it.2

Gordon Taylor has come under heavy fire for his running of the PFA

McNaught later got in touch with the PFA again to seek emotional and organisational support, as the stresses over his condition took its toll on him and his family.But he feels they were left to deal with the situation on their own.I got in touch with the PFA later on looking for some advice, he added.I knew they wouldnt cover the cost, but I was looking for them to take the pressure away because I was phoning the doctors twice a week to find out when the operation date was going to be.The effect it was having on my family, especially when the operation date kept changing and kept getting postponed, it was extremely hard on my family.I burst into tears during one phone call because of the pressure involved. When I joined the PFA, I was sold on the fact that once you became a member they also covered you after your career had finished.That was the big attraction, the fact there was a benevolent fund being set up. Back in those days, five per cent of all transfer fees went to the PFA, there was no TV money, but they still got a fair proportion of any transfer fee.I would hate for anyone to go through what my family went through. And Im not just talking about the financial side of it, Im talking about someone taking an interest and just putting an arm around you and saying, you look after your family, well take all that worry and pressure away from you and well arrange for thing to be done.Listen back to talkSPORT’s interview with Ken McNaught in full above

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09 1995, The Times, #65159, UK (en)_djvu.txt
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Surgeons performed a life-saving operation, but he was still in serious danger. The 27-year-old always wanted a move to La Liga "I still remember lying in that bed," he recalled a few months later. "The only thing I could see were tubes dangling out from me. "My body was broken and I couldn't do anything.
The Villa Times - Issue 7 by Peter Brennan - Issuu

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'PFA refused to cover costs of life-saving heart operation

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I needed PFA to spend £40k to save my life but they refused to help with my serious heart condition. My recent personal experience of the PFA has been one of total neglect
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'The PFA refused to cover costs of my life-saving heart operation', says Aston Villa legend Ken McNaught. they refused to help cover the costs.
'The PFA refused to cover costs of my life-saving heart
hollywoodadviser.com/the-pfa-refused-to-cover-costs-of-my-life-saving-heart-operation-says-aston-villa-legend-ken-mcnaught/
Aston Villa legend Ken McNaught has revealed the Professional Footballers' Association REFUSED to help pay for a life-saving operation after he was diagnosed with a serious heart condition. The 63-year-old former defender joined talkSPORT to join the growing debate about the future of the PFA and its under-fire chief executive Gordon Taylor.
November 22, 2018 - Part 2 - hollywoodadviser.com
hollywoodadviser.com/2018/11/22/page/2/
Aston Villa legend Ken McNaught has revealed the Professional Footballers' Association REFUSED to help pay for a life-saving operation after he was diagnosed with a serious heart condition. The 63-year-old former defender joined talkSPORT to join the growing debate about the future of the PFA and its under-fire chief executive Gordon Taylor.
I needed PFA to spend £40k to save my life but they

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The following night we were treated to a live gig by music legend Wreckless Eric, who did not disappoint, and we had around 100 people here rocking the night away to the thrum of guitar and
Full text of "The Times , 1995, UK, English" - archive.org