Recruitment shelved until impact is known
WAKEFIELD TRINITY’S retention and recruitment plans have been put on hold as they wait to assess the financial impact of the coronavirus crisis.
Players who are off-contract at the end of this season would usually be negotiating new deals at their current clubs or seeking a move elsewhere.
However, Trinity head coach Chris Chester doesn’t feel there will be much transfer activity in rugby league with the sport currently shutdown.
Putting plans in place for next season has become a difficult task for Super League clubs, with revenue streams stopped and no firm date set for a return to action.
Trinity have both players and staff who are now in the final year of their contracts but no discussions have been able to take place over new deals due to the uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We have got five or six players who are all off-contract at the end of the season and have also got six or seven staff members that are all off-contract at the end of season as well,” said Chester.
“Until we actually get back in and get back playing, it is very difficult to plan anything.
“We don’t know what impact this is going to have on the finances. We know there are going to be cuts, we don’t walk around with our eyes closed, clubs are losing money hand over fist.”
Chester has backed the wage cut proposals at Wakefield, with the Belle Vue club among a number of top-flight sides imposing pay reductions.
He added: “Our club will lose a hell of a lot of money as well.
“We need to make that up in
other areas and whether that is going to be a reduction in wages or salary cap or staffing off the field.
“I will sit down with Michael (Carter) and John (Minards) when things are a little bit
clearer. There will be players who will be wondering what is going happen. I don’t think there will be many clubs who do much business at this moment in time until they know what the future holds.”