A pay ceiling of £500k per annum? I can’t wait to see players take a 90% or 95% pay cut.

COYP

I like andros and I kind of see his point that they see the fuller picture of clubs finances and what they do with regards to other’s pay. However, I think they just don’t get it reading this...

‘If the players end up agreeing to a pay cut or deferral and a few days later the PFA find out that these clubs can continue to pay non-playing staff and are choosing not to, then who benefits?

“The NHS are not benefiting, these heroes are not benefiting. If the clubs can continue to pay them and are choosing not to then it is only those clubs that are benefiting.

“The PFA is doing its job, they are making sure that these clubs can continue to pay non-playing staff before any decision is made.”

I don’t think they really understand that there is now going to be a finite amount of money and not different pots of money so their salary is guaranteed. My view is they either do it for the good of the club and game as a whole or they’ll look like what people are ready to accuse them of or Matt Hancock has implied. They need to get a move on.

Unless the players ARE saying that they don’t want to take this pay cut and for the clubs to furlough the non playing staff so effectively take the government handout. But that’s a complex part because if they are furloughed then there’s more money for players and the government is where the decision should be made to not effectively pay clubs to furlough non playing staff. Messy one, and when you have people like Mike Ashley furloughing staff asap you can see the problem. I’m surprised with Norwich furloughing asap though.

If players don’t do the decent thing I think I may walk away if loads of others promise to do the same. It’ll probably be just Liverpool and Man Utd being full like the old days.

The clubs, players and government need to come together to a satisfactory agreement.

Edited by Rudi Hedman (03 Apr 2020 1.32pm)

COYP

I suspect that if staff members, who perhaps do not earn significant sums, are furloughed on 80% and see footballers at home collecting large sums this could well 'Stick in their throats'.

This situation clearly does NOT sit well with the general public and some might argue that it does not help the image of the game in this country.

Edited by Willo (03 Apr 2020 2.02pm)

I’ve always considered Gordon Taylor as a wet lettuce. He should be bringing the PFA, clubs and government together if their aim is to:

Make sure clubs don’t take advantage of govt money by forcing non playing employees to be on furlough schemes.

Not just maximise their wages after this.

Look after the clubs.

I’m not sure players realise how many will stop paying £1,000 to £1,200 to even more for a season ticket or two plus concession tickets for kids before any bad feeling. That might not be a significant enough hit to prem clubs but there’s also the sky cancellations.

My cynicism predicts they’re trying to stall for time to see how long this lockdown is for and to what extent after the main lockdown. I noticed Leeds Utd players deferred wages and didn’t take a pay cut.

The clubs are all meeting over video and club captains are talking amongst each other. Talk of players donating to the nhs which is great, but they shouldn’t do that instead of doing their bit to keep the clubs from going down and the nhs is the government’s responsibility.

COYP

I think I just heard they’re talking about a 30% DEFERRED wage cut.

Dear oh dear.

COYP

I'm not suggesting this as something that would happen, but is there a reason why the players could not be put on furlough too?

They technically can't work and are employees of the club.