Stendel is leading by example but not everyone can afford to work for NOTHING
I took a pay cut of 50 per cent to stay a Hearts player. It was tough
IT IS not a decision he made without pause for thought. A sacrifice that he has never spoken about publicly. Until now.
And, even as Steven Pressley reveals details of the financial hit he took to remain a Hearts player during previous troubled times, he seeks no special praise or commendation.
Because he understands that every player has his own unique set of circumstances.
He knows that not all can make the kind of grand gesture that will see Hearts boss Daniel Stendel work for free until this crisis is over.
Not everyone has the capital to fall back on. Each player and coach will have their own reasons for what they do next.
And, while all should recognise how deeply mired in crisis the entire football industry has become, many will decide that they just can’t afford to comply with polite requests to reduce earnings.
Former Hearts captain Pressley, expressing sympathy in equal measures for both his former employers and the footballers asked to shoulder their share of the burden, genuinely believes that some major clubs will end up ‘on their knees’ before competition resumes.
And he sees the latest move by Hearts owner Ann Budge, effectively telling players that they have to take 50-per-cent pay cuts, as just the first of many dominoes to fall.
‘I’ve never publicised this. But, when John Robertson was manager, I took a 50-per-cent pay cut to stay with the club,’ Pressley told Sportsmail.
‘I never spoke about it at the time. But I took that cut to stay a Hearts player.
‘It was tough because, as footballers, you all live according to what you’re earning.
‘So I had to make a lot of adjustments to my life. But I was really happy at Hearts, I was captain of the club and it was the right decision for football reasons — and for my family. So I took it. But I never spoke about it.
‘For Daniel, that’s a great gesture, saying that he’s going to work for no money.
‘But fans should be aware that many players may not be in a position to make a similar gesture. ‘It’s great if players want to take the cut for the good of the club — and the good of the employees who don’t earn the kind of money that footballers do. ‘I’m sure several Hearts players will do something similar to the manager. They will effectively work for nothing. ‘These will be players who have great financial support, they’ve earned good money and been well advised. ‘But everybody in that dressing room will be in a different position. What’s right for somebody, the grand gesture, may not be right for somebody who doesn’t have the same financial support. ‘Everybody is entitled to make their own decision based on their own circumstances. Many will have families, monthly bills. It’s not as easy as it sounds.’
Despite their massive wage bill, not everyone on the Hearts books will be on big money.
And the life of a footballer, constantly moving in pursuit of a better career move or simply being offloaded when no longer required by a club, can be expensive.
There’s a great chapter in Tony Cascarino’s book where, at his wife’s suggestion, he works out how much constantly moving — taking a hit on selling a home in order to get rid quickly, often losing money in the process — had cost them over the years.
It’s an eye-opener. And much of the same financial logic still applies in the current era; only the absolute elite, those who can afford to pay their own way, will find clubs willing to cover all the ‘extras’ that come with a move.
But the prospect of their monthly income falling to zero pounds and zero pence, a very real threat if SPFL clubs exercise the small print covering suspension of play, will undoubtedly cause most at Hearts — and other clubs — to play ball on this occasion.
‘Ann Budge has obviously taken legal advice before she made her move,’ said Pressley.
‘And, if you have to lose 50 per cent of your wages, well, that might still be more than you could get at another club.
‘Although Hearts are the first to do this, there will be a domino effect in the coming weeks and months. Others will fall very quickly.
‘You can have a lot of sympathy for Hearts, too. It’s not like Ann is just doing this because she wants to.
‘It’s not just football, all business are suffering.
‘People are losing jobs, being told they have to take unpaid leave — it’s tough for everyone.
‘I’ve actually done my research and, if you look at the Scottish game, they rely on gate receipts for 43 per cent of their income.
‘In Italy and Spain it’s 11 per cent. In the English Premier League it’s even less than that.
‘So Scottish clubs will be hit hard by losing gate receipts. And Hearts having such a big support probably even works against them.
‘They’ve paid out millions on a new stand. So there is a lot for the club to deal with.
‘They’re taking action quickly — but more will definitely follow.
‘Trust me, we will see some big, big clubs taking very drastic action as things goes on.
‘In my opinion, and it’s just my opinion, we may see some very big clubs brought to their knees by this.
‘Not just in Scotland but in the Premier League in England.
‘If there is no solution to this and the TV money dries up, some serious clubs could fall into real trouble.’