Dark Blues to join United on leave

STATEMENT: Managing director confirms move to look after Dens staff

Dundee are set to join city neighbours Dundee United in putting players and staff under furlough.

Dark Blues managing director John Nelms broke the news to the Dens employees in a statement sent to them at home.

That means the UK Government, through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, will be paying 80% of the wages up to £2,500 per month, with the club picking up the remainder.

On behalf of himself and the board, the American confirmed: “The UK Government and its agencies have ... been extremely helpful in the offering of grants/loans and providing relief through the job retention scheme. That includes HMRC.

“It is our experience, thus far, that this country’s handling of the crisis exceeds others in the mitigation of losses for businesses as well as individuals.

“In the coming days we will be implementing elements of the job retention scheme in respect of our staff and it is our intention that all are looked after fully throughout this crisis.”

Nelms continued: “This includes our football players, football staff and administrative staff receiving full pay while they are on furlough for the foreseeable future.”

Dundee have followed in the footsteps of United, who confirmed they were using the furlough scheme in a message from their managing director Mal Brannigan on Wednesday.

Furlough allows companies, in this case football clubs, to maintain their employees’ contracts intact while the treasury contributes to their wage bill.

The good news is that the Dark Blues, through owner Tim Keyes, will be footing the bill and making up the difference.

Nelms revealed that the Dens men had taken out an insurance policy before the pandemic struck and hopes this will help them deal with the costs.

He added: “This, I have to say, is the strangest and scariest period, certainly of my lifetime and it has brought to the forefront that, despite all of our differences (especially those that we have in sport), we are truly all in this together and as such, we will get through this together.

“We at Dundee Football Club have been constantly monitoring the situation we find ourselves in due to the Covid-19 virus and have been taking advice, giving guidance, and implementing protocols to keep our staff, patrons and partners safe and sound as we ensure the sustainability of the club.

“The club do indeed have Business Interruption Insurance with specific additions of Notifiable Diseases and Prevention of Access to our Commercial Combined Insurance Policy, which should allow us to have options to reimburse those losses incurred due to the cancellation of matches.

“It would be our intention, if the season is brought to an early conclusion, where practical, to reimburse those season ticket holders for the remainder of the season that was not played.”

Nelms singled out the owner of Dens Park, former United director John Bennett, for foregoing rent on the stadium while the crisis rages on.

He said: “I would like to personally thank John Bennett for his very generous and selfless gesture.

“His call, on day one of this crisis, helped to set the tone for all that followed throughout this shutdown and is the epitome of showing how we are all in this together.”