Former Scottish FA chief David Taylor on Friday promised a "new era" for UEFA as he took up his new post as General Secretary of European football's governing body. The 59 year-old, who effectively becomes number two to UEFA's new President Michel Platini, was confirmed in the job by Europe's 53 football associations last Monday.
"Since leaving the SFA I have had the opportunity to familiarise myself with the operations and today marks a new era for me and the UEFA administration," Taylor said in a statement. Taylor will implement key decisions for European football, including the future of the UEFA Cup and Champions League, stadium security and soccer violence, and manage the body's relationship with clubs and leagues.
Platini on Monday urged Europe's top clubs to dissolve their elite G14 group of 18 of the continent's biggest and richest clubs. As he took up his post, Taylor immediately underlined his faith in the "pyramid system" of sport including the notion of promotion and relegation.
"These are huge things which are non-negotiable, we don't want closed leagues or business running football to the extent that they say we must have four periods of 15 minutes' play, God forbid," he said on UEFA's website. Some richer European clubs have signalled their interest in creating a European superleague in recent years.