Dave Kitson's bid to stage a PFA coup has been vilified by former Republic of Ireland midfielder Steven Reid.
Ex-Reading striker Kitson staked his claim on Thursday to replace Gordon Taylor as the Professional Footballers’ Association Chief Executive, a role Taylor has held for 38 years.
But Reid was among several players to give Kitson the thumbs down and reminded him of his comments suggesting Raheem Sterling had made himself a target after the Manchester City had endured racist abuse.
"Is this the same Dave Kitson that accused the likes of Raheem Sterling of “bringing it on themselves” after he was abused?" Reid wrote on Twitter, "Yeah would love him fighting my corner.”
Ex-Chelsea defender Frank Sinclair also tweeted: “If Dave Kitson gets any role in the union I won’t be using them at all."
Former Sunderland star Michael Gray wrote: “Dave Kitson - chief executive - no thanks!”
Kitson, 40, had criticised the PFA's response to the coronavirus pandemic and used the decision by the 20 Premier League captains to launch the #playerstogether campaign - to support the NHS to make his case.
He said: "That certain Premier League players and the captains of the Premier League clubs, under the banner of the '#PlayersTogether' initiative, felt the need to act independently of the PFA in their response to the Covid-19 pandemic, is nothing short of embarrassing.”
But it is understood a growing number of players are unimpressed with a number of public comments Kitson has made himself.
Kitson has posed 101 questions to the PFA leadership and added in a statement: "I have been troubled by the breadth of criticism levelled at the PFA over the past 12 months from both the mainstream media and, in particular in recent months, from a number of esteemed colleagues against whom I've either played or otherwise hold in the highest regard.
"The recent sharp escalation of public criticism from high-profile players arising out of the PFA's stated response to the current Covid-19 pandemic is extremely troubling."
