The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Arabs opt for furlough plan
● Government scheme throws us a lifeline, say Championship leaders
Dundee United will use the government’s job protection scheme to place a large number of employees in furlough.
The government scheme, announced last month amid the coronavirus outbreak, will allow businesses to access an 80% grant to cover an employee’s wage, up to a cap of £2,500.
The Championship leaders yesterday joined several other football clubs in using the initiative, which is backdated to the start of March and will last at least three months.
Although a skeleton staff will continue to work, United chief executive Mal Brannigan says making use of the scheme across all departments will provide a “short-term lifeline” for the Tannadice club.
Brannigan said: “I believe that this is the best option for Dundee United and it would be remiss of me to not make effective use of it, given the importance of protecting the long-term sustainability of the club.
“The scheme is a huge source of business relief, essentially on our cash flow, given that wages and salaries are our largest monthly outlay and an invaluable short-term lifeline to the club while we await the return of football and our usual match-day income streams.
“A skeleton staff remains at the club so we can react to changes at the right time and with the right decision.”
United stand to be among the clubs most heavily affected by the decision on how the current season is resolved, given their 14-point lead at the top of the Championship.
A number of options have been suggested, including the potential for league reconstruction to create a 14-team Premiership that would see United promoted regardless.
Brannigan is hopeful Robbie Neilson’s side will be playing top-flight football anyway, adding: “No one is clear yet on what will happen with the rest of the season and how it will conclude.
“Promotion back to the Premiership was our aim at the start of it and that will not change, however it is achieved.
“There has been too much invested into this season by the club and the fans to not see this ambition realised.
“It is a tough predicament the SPFL and SFA boards find themselves in at the moment, especially as there are no precedents to rely on.
“In my view, the direction coming from Fifa and Uefa will influence the majority of the leagues throughout Europe, including our own, as they try to rearrange their footballing calendars and the participants for their next competitions.”
“No one is clear yet on what will happen”