EFL stars told: Don’t take pay cut

THE Professional Footballers’ Association have written to EFL players warning them not to be coerced into accepting wage reductions this summer ahead of plans to introduce a salary cap. In a two-page document seen by Sportsmail, the players’ union has told members that any plans to accelerate a salary cap at the end of the season would be unlawful and likely to result in a sizeable wage drop in the long term.

As it stands, salary restriction plans in League One and League Two are significantly more ahead than the Championship. According to the document, from the start of next season, the EFL want to introduce a salary cap of £2.5million per season for League One — an average salary of £2,400 a week — and £1.25m for League Two, an average of £1,200 a week.

The report states: ‘The salary cap would not be limited to the gross wages clubs pay to players. Instead, clubs would have to factor in the “salary cost” of tax and National Insurance contributions, conditional fees and bonuses, employment benefits and agents’ fees.

‘As a result, this would likely involve a significant reduction in salary for many players and/or a reduction in squad sizes.’ But the PFA have warned that the EFL cannot implement the salary cap until a thorough consultation process is completed. ‘The PFA has made it clear to the EFL that such matters must be considered before the Professional Football Negotiating and Consultative Committee (PFNCC),’ the circular continued.

‘It would be unlawful for the EFL and its clubs to vote on this issue and change the EFL Regulations without first consulting the PFNCC.’ The EFL are also planning to introduce a salary cap in the Championship, although with a much higher ceiling of between £15m and £20m.