Steph Houghton has failed in her bid to become first female chair of the PFA.

As Sportsmail reported, the Manchester City star and former Lionesses defender emerged as the leading candidate to take over as head of the players’ board at the union following current incumbent John Mousinho’s departure to manage Portsmouth.

The 34-year-old was the preferred choice of a number of execs at the PFA who believed that it was time to have a woman in the role. And Houghton, whose husband, the former Liverpool and Bradford defender Stephen Darby is suffering from MND, subsequently decided to stand. 

Steph Houghton's attempt to become the PFA's first female chair has been unsuccessful

However, at a meeting of the players’ board on Thursday the 121-cap England international, one of the most decorated players in the female game, lost out in a vote to Leyton Orient defender Omar Beckles. 

The 31-year-old, who has also played for Crewe, Shrewsbury and Accrington, won a vote ahead of Houghton and final candidate Brighton’s Danielle Carter.

Senior officials are said to be flummoxed by the development, and believe it is an opportunity wasted.

Some, however, believe Beckles, who has also played for Boreham Wood, Billericay and Kettering, will be acutely aware of the issues faced by players in the lower leagues. The players’ board includes Birmingham’s Troy Deeney, Manchester United’s Tom Heaton and former Leicester defender Wes Morgan.