Cork City forced to lay off staff as crisis takes hold
CORK CITY became the latest League of Ireland club to announce cutbacks when it confirmed yesterday that it would not be in a position to pay its staff wages beyond next week, in light of the suspension of the season due to the Covid-19 global pandemic.
Following Sligo Rovers temporarily laying off staff last Thursday, the Leeside club informed all players and a number of its staff that they would be paid full wages next week. However, the club ‘will not be in a position to continue paying their wages beyond that point.’
City said that it would work with its staff to ensure they were in a position to avail of the government payment for workers laid off during the crisis, and they intended to do everything they could to support them. ‘We believe that this action, while regrettable, is the most prudent approach we can take to ensure that the club will be in a position to offer employment once the football resumes,’ a club statement read.
City had been in a perilous financial position before the start of the season and had to cash in on the sell-on clauses with Preston for Alan Browne and Sean Maguire, in order to ensure they obtained a licence, while Neale Fenn’s side have struggled on the pitch and sit second bottom in the Premier Division.
City chairman Declan Carey said: ‘These are extremely difficult and unprecedented times. The board has daily discussions on the latest financial position of the club and this decision was not an easy one.
‘We are responsible to our shareholders to make these difficult decisions in the best interests of the overall future of the club. We hope things can return to some level of normality soon, however, we urge all our supporters to continue to help the club through this next period of uncertainty through buying merchandise, and supporting our online fundraising initiatives.’