Jason Lee vows to revolutionise Professional Footballers' Association as former Nottingham Forest striker bids to replace outgoing chief executive Gordon Taylor

The former Nottingham Forest striker, who currently works as the PFA's Equalities and Education Executive, has joined Ben Purkiss and Jonathan Walters in putting himself forward as a potential successor to Gordon Taylor.

Taylor will bring an end to a 40-year career as PFA chief at the end of the season, and Lee believes he has all the relevant experience and credentials needed to be a success in the role.

"I've been involved in football for 34 years and I've been involved in administration for the best part of 10 years. I believe I've got the skills and competencies to step forward," Lee told talkSPORT.

"I've definitely got the courage and conviction to lead an organisation."

The PFA have been accused of becoming out of touch in recent times by some quarters, and Lee acknowledges that there is plenty of room for improvement.

He continued: "I certainly believe we need to galvanise and continue to engage with our membership - that's the most important thing.

"People assume that we've maybe become out of touch, but I know for the best part of 10 years that I've been here I've been face-to-face with our membership and players and be on the front foot.

"That needs to be across the whole organisation, so for me that's vitally important. The players have to trust in us and vice versa; then we'll be able to make changes.

"Without their implementation and things that we want to do - remember we're player led; it's not just me coming up with ideas about what I would like to do.

"Everything I've done in the past has been brought to my attention by the membership, so it's about ensuring what do you [the players] want us to actually do?"

Lee also believes that the PFA need to be more resourceful and increase the number of staff who work for the players' union.

"People that have been working within the PFA understand that there are changes that need to be made. I'm definitely in favour of modernisation involving the PFA," Lee explained.

"The PFA needs to be more resourceful as well - and spend money in other areas. The PFA is not as big as people assume [it is].

"We've got 60 plus staff and do our best for our members, but that [number] needs increasing. Wellbeing is very important, and we're tackling things like dementia - all things to help our membership.

PFA Equalities and Education Executive, Jason Lee, talks about the leadership that is needed in football to address issues of discrimination. pic.twitter.com/VbuPsBxJbq

— Professional Footballers' Association (@PFA) December 16, 2020

"We know what needs to be done and it's just about ensuring the right money is spend in the right areas and then we can provide a really good service for our players."

Lee also doesn't believe that players should fund the PFA, with the vast majority of their revenue coming from the Premier League, the Football League and the Football Association.

He concluded: "To be part of any union or membership it requires payment - whatever it may be. And it's only £150.

"It's not even about the money. We know the money comes from Premier League revenue and that's distributed throughout the game.

"If it was down to the players to decide on how much they were going to pay for a membership then the union would not have been as effective as it has been and will continue to be so in the future.

"I don't agree with the view that players should fund the PFA."

Jason Lee has vowed to revolutionise the Professional Footballers' Association after applying to become the union's new chief executive.