CUTTING NO ICE
Top-flight clubs losing salary war with stars
PREMIER LEAGUE footballers are winning their battle against proposed pay cuts, despite Southampton players agreeing a marginal wage deferral.
The majority of clubs are still far from shaking hands on deferral deals as talks between executives and their players continued last night.
Southampton became the first topflight club yesterday to confirm their squad had accepted wage reductions.
Saints players have agreed a deferral of about 10 per cent for April, May and June following talks this week to help protect jobs across the club. Manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, his coaching staff and the south- coast
club’s board will do likewise. The money deferred is due to be paid back to players in October.
Sportsmail revealed on Wednesday southampton were confident of avoiding the need to furlough any non-playing staff.
A wage deferral for players was central to the club averting the need to use the Government’s Job Retention scheme, which will pay furloughed staff up to £2,500 a month towards their wages.
After yesterday’s announcement of the deal, southampton confirmed they will not furlough any staff for the time being.
Premier League players have resolved not to accept pay cuts, but are open to deferrals — a fight they appear to be winning.
The prospect of players accepting pay cuts will be back on the agenda if the league’s suspension extends into July, or if the season is curtailed.
The Premier League outlined recommendations for clubs to implement a uniform 30 per cent wage reduction last Friday.
But those plans fell flat and any salary reductions will be decided on a club-by-club basis. West ham, Bournemouth, Manchester United, Manchester City and Watford are among the clubs to have spoken to their players about wage deferrals in recent days.
West ham vice- chair Karren Brady wrote to players about that possibility, which could amount to 30 per cent of their salaries.
But despite southampton’s agreement, plenty of clubs are way short of any breakthrough.
Sportsmail understands that one club has tried to negotiate a 50 per cent wage reduction while another tried for a 35 per cent deferral. Both proposals were rejected.
One club is determined not to implement wage reductions at all due to concerns over the financial burden it will leave them facing later in the year when the money needs to be paid.
Premier League players have also been keen to ascertain the plans of their own club’s hierarchies before agreeing to reductions. They want to see a similar willingness at board level, believing those at the top should lead by example.
ThE FA COUNCiL has formally voided the 2019- 20 season for sections of the non-League, women’s and grassroots game despite a considerable backlash from clubs, administrators and MPs when the decision was taken last month.
The move, ratified with an overwhelming Council majority, expunges the campaigns of divisions below the National League’s three tiers and steps three to seven of the women’s game.