Scotland's Taylor appointed new UEFA secretary general

BRUSSELS, Feb 9 (Reuters) David Taylor, the head of the Scottish Football Association, is the new secretary general of UEFA, European soccer's governing body, officals said today.

Taylor has been given the role - the highest administrative position in UEFA and one of the most important roles in world soccer - in succession to Lars-Christer Olsson who stood down as chief executive last week.

Under a new structure to be formally approved next week, the role of CEO will become redundant and new UEFA president Michel Platini will be given more executive powers.

''It's a done deal,'' a senior UEFA offical told Reuters.

''Basically the SFA have been informed and we are just dotting the i's and crossing the t's. We also need to change the statute books to allow for the changes.'' Olsson left his post after three years following the election of Platini as the new UEFA president at the governing body's Congress in Duesseldorf on Jan. 26.

Platini has made no secret he intends to act as more of an executive president rather than follow the more laissez-faire approach of his predecessor Lennart Johansson.

This meant Olsson -- a close ally and Swedish compatriot of Johansson -- had no option but to leave.

Platini's new powers will mirror those of his close ally FIFA president Sepp Blatter who takes a hand-on approach at soccer's world governing body.

Taylor, who is steering a proposal to expand the European Championship from 16 to 24 teams, was a major supporter of Platini, giving the former French international his full public backing during the election race.

A lawyer by profession, Taylor joined the Scottish FA as chief executive in 1999 and is widely respected within the UEFA system. He is a member of the organisation's Control and Disciplinary Body.

REUTERS SAM RAI2139