PFA left Elgin in Tatters

El g in Cit y chai rman Graham Tatters insists PFA Scotland have been more of a hindrance than a help with their advice to players over wage cuts.

The League Two outfit put staff and players on furlough last week af ter initial ly asking their employees to take a 67 per cent pay cut before government aid was made available.

As part of the retention scheme, businesses can claim 80 per cent of a staff member’s wage – capped at £2,500 per month – until the end of May.

Tatters claims the players’ union wanted the club to make up the remaining 20 per cent but he insists that was unrealistic.

Tatters said: “We have been competing with the instructions the players are getting from PFA Scotland – it has been disappointing.

“The PFA should have thought of the big picture. I can understand why they are trying to represent their members and do the best for them but that would surely have been to make sure they have a job when this all ends.

“It’s no fun out there – we are struggling with nothing coming in. The government scheme gives the players 80 per cent of their wage.

“Because we had offered the players a third of their wages, the PFA were of the opinion we should have paid the extra 20 per cent.

“The circumstances have changed. The players have all realised it’s all well and good holding out for 20 per cent extra but they wouldn’t have a job to go back to.

“We believe the players took it upon themselves to say they are going to take it, because they are concerned the club might not survive.

“I can sympathise with them but with the way things were going in the country, to get 80 per cent is better than nothing.”