Bosses take pay deferral for Scotland
SCOTLAND coach Gregor Townsend and Murrayfield chief Mark Dodson have agreed to salary deferments as the Scottish Rugby Union accepts the coronavirus shutdown is likely to have major consequences for “some time Gregor to come”.
Townsend, plus his counterparts at Glasgow and Edinburgh, Dave Rennie and Richard Cockerill, and SRU performance director Jim Mallinder have each agreed to a 25 per cent deferral.
SRU chief executive Dodson will defer 30 per cent of his wages from April 1 through to September 1.
The decision was taken during a conference call last Friday, when the SRU’S executive and non-executive directors also agreed to a 25 per cent deferral.
Murrayfield bosses spent last week surveying the damage caused by the cashflow crisis sparked after sport was forced into lockdown a fortnight ago.
Critics have pointed out that in particular Dodson - who was paid a total of £933,000 in wages and bonuses last year has only agreed to suspend a chunk of his hefty salary rather than accept a pay cut for the duration of the pandemic threat.
But SRU sources insist that this is only the first step taken by the board and further measures - including making use of the government’s furloughing scheme and pay cuts for staff and players - may yet have to be considered the longer the shutdown goes on.
Scotland’s final Guinness Six Nations clash with Wales in Cardiff has already been shelved and may not be played until October.
Wales head coach Wayne Pivac and Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Martyn Phillips are to take 25 per cent salary reductions amid the coronavirus shutdown.
The WRU said it had announced “further measures to reduce costs during the current period of inactivity in the game in Wales.”
It added: “With no stadium events currently and pressure on other income streams, and following in-depth reviews of potential ‘return to rugby’ dates, a comprehensive plan for cost savings has been implemented.”