ROSS:I’LLSHOW FAITHINSTARS WHODUGDEEP
JACK ROSS has promised not to dip into the transfer market until all of his Hibs’ squad have been repaid.
The Easter Road outfit confirmed on Friday that “most” staff have been furloughed amid the big football shutdown.
A salary deferral scheme has also been agreed, including first-team stars temporarily surrendering between 20 and 50 percent of their pay-packet during the coronavirus crisis.
Head coach Ross is adamant the temporary cuts can save jobs in the long term – and has vowed to reward his players for their loyalty before he considers squad changes.
He said: “As the manager, I was quite clear that I wanted to protect the players and squad that we have in place at the moment and show gratitude for the sacrifices they are making for us.
“When we eventually return to playing, we will ensure they are all looked after before we then add more players.
“We have a number of players still under contract anyway but, as the manager, it’s important that I recognise all the
BY ALAN MARSHALL players who have bought into this.
“The club deserves a lot of credit as do the players.”
Ross has lavished praise on club captain David Gray, who acted on behalf of the playing squad during talks with chief executive Leeann Dempster and owner Ron Gordon last weekend.
As well as being a vastly experienced professional, Gray is also on the nineman management committee of the players’ union, PFA Scotland, and Ross believes his influence was pivotal to an amicable agreement being struck.
Ross said: “We managed to communicate with David when we felt it was the right time and it was clear that we would not be returning to playing in the near future.
“That meant we had to look at what we wanted to do. We wanted to bridge that gap between the board, the players and my role as manager, then pass that on to David on behalf of the players.
“At that stage, I felt very fortunate to have someone as sensible as David as club captain.”