Cormack ‘humbled’ as Dons players and staff agree to take wage cut

ABERDEEN have agreed a wage deal with players and staff which will save the club £1 million.

The Dons say they have been in talks over cuts averaging 20% among those who earn more than £30,000 per year, and have arrived at a “fair and equitable” solution.

Chairman Dave Cormack told the club’s website: “I’m humbled by the response of our hardworking and dedicated executives, management, players and staff who have accepted these cuts and the reasons for them.

“They’ve demonstrated a willingness to do what needs to be done to help secure the club’s future.

“As a result of our higher earners sharing in the financial pain inflicted by the coronavirus crisis, we’re able to safeguard jobs and protect the incomes of those on a lower wage.”

Having estimated a £10 million funding gap as the extent of the pandemic became apparent, the Scottish Premiership club have now reduced that deficit to £3.8 million through a series of measures.

Those include investment, use of the furlough scheme and a £1 million boost from fans in the form of higher-than-expected season ticket sales and sign-ups to the club’s AberDNA membership scheme.

“It was clear that our situation was becoming unsustainable,” Cormack added.

“These cuts help to further reduce our running costs to a more sustainable level against what income we can continue to generate through season ticket sales, AberDNA Memberships and broadcast revenues. We have made significant strides getting the gap down to under £4 million.

“We’re not out of the woods, by any means, but everyone at the club is buoyed by our supporters and corporate clients’ desire for us to work together to get through this. And I believe we will.”

Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack.