Gordon Taylor is expected to announce later his intention to step down as chief executive of the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA).

The 74-year-old, Britain’s highest-paid union boss, has been in the role for 38 years but has come under increasing pressure to step aside.

It follows public criticism of Mr Taylor from Ben Purkiss, the PFA chairman, who has pushed for an independent review of the union, which is expected to begin in the next few weeks.

An annual general meeting will take place on Wednesday afternoon at Manchester’s Midland Hotel, where it is understood Mr Taylor will announce the decision to board members.

He is expected to tell delegates that he will stay in place until the independent review is over.

Mr Taylor, whose football career in the 1960s and 70s included spells with Bolton Wanderers, Birmingham City and Blackburn Rovers, has earned almost £20m over the past 12 years.

More than 300 players and former players are said to have endorsed an open letter calling on Mr Taylor to step down.

He faced a public power struggle with Mr Purkiss in November, leading Mr Taylor to announce a “full and open review into the structure and operation” of the organisation.

After stepping down as PFA chief executive, he will not be able to take another role in the union for five years.

Shortly after the end of his playing career at Bury, Mr Taylor replaced Derek Dougan as chairman of the PFA in November 1978, becoming chief executive three years later.

During his tenure, the PFA developed a support and welfare structure for footballers, including a 24-hour counselling helpline and residential support at the Sporting Chance clinic.

Mr Taylor championed grants for members to help deal with mounting debts, pensions, mental health issues and re-education, as well as equality and diversity training.

Working with the Football Association, in 2017 Mr Taylor guaranteed finance for research into a possible link between heading the ball and dementia.

However, critics have pointed to Mr Taylor’s sizeable remuneration – last year he received nearly £2.3m – plus the huge assets owned by the PFA which total more than £64m, including £8.4m worth of freehold property and £9.7m worth of memorabilia.

Many also believe the PFA should have begun their funding of research into dementia years earlier.

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