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Can football clubs worldwide continue to afford to pay players wages in full.

Discussion in 'Hull City' started by Darylhull, Mar 23, 2020.

  1. Darylhull

    Darylhull New Member

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    Quite a strong letter and hope the Premier league players take note. I think most want to help the normal staff but agents and players union want it to be deferred and not a cut. They don't live in the real world like most of us.
     
    #41
  2. Chazz Rheinhold

    Chazz Rheinhold Well-Known Member

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    Is Gary ****er lineker giving his salary back?
     
    #42
  3. Plum

    Plum Well-Known Member

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    upload_2020-4-2_15-58-59.png
     
    #43
    GlassHalfHull likes this.
  4. originallambrettaman

    originallambrettaman Mod Moderator
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    PFA statement...

    This is an extremely challenging and worrying time for our country, and the world, as we all try to navigate the Coronavirus pandemic. Our admiration and thanks are with the NHS and all keyworkers who are keeping our country going at this very difficult time.

    Football, of course, faces its own challenges. As this is an ever-moving situation, our staff are working tirelessly behind the scenes on this unprecedented crisis to address the needs of the players, while considering the clubs and the wider industry.

    Our initial response to the outbreak was to focus solely on the health and safety of players, club staff and the fans.

    We circulated advice and recommendations to all players and clubs regarding best practice at the training ground, and as the outbreak progressed, we then voiced the player’s concerns to the leagues which resulted in training being suspended at all clubs.

    We wanted to ensure the necessary steps were taken to ensure football was taking responsibility to do its part in reducing the potential for spreading the virus. It was quickly obvious that the wider implications of the pandemic were more important than football.

    Understandably, with the season subsequently on hiatus, the players’ and clubs’ financial positions then became a priority issue.

    We had an initial meeting with the Premier League and EFL on Monday 23rd March.

    At this point, our attention was mainly focused on EFL players - particularly League One and League Two - as their need was most urgent. Here, a significant number of players are employed on a relatively short-term basis, with 12-month contracts and salaries closer to the national average. As such, many of these players will have contracts ending in June. These are often people with young families, for whom their immediate financial position is uncertain.

    As the month progressed, we saw first-hand correspondence from multiple EFL clubs telling players that they needed to immediately sign paperwork in order to receive March’s salary. In several instances, this was sent the day before the squads were due to be paid. Players were being asked to agree to a range of terms including furloughs, deferrals and, in some cases, pay cuts. For some, this constituted a legal change to their contract that would have standing beyond the resumption of football.

    As the players’ union, we have a duty of care to our members and advised that players should not sign any contractual amendments, particularly when being put under significant pressure, without being fully informed.

    In addition, there was no consistency from clubs with regard to wording and the terms being offered. This meant the PFA was dealing with a high number of differing cases in a short space of time.

    Contrary to some press reports the PFA has never stated that it will block all wage deferrals. What we have sought to put in place is a structured and unified approach to ensure a fair response across the leagues.

    To address this, we called for an urgent meeting with the Premier League and EFL - which took place on Friday 27th March. The PFA’s primary aim was to ensure that wages for EFL players were protected for that month, this was agreed.

    In addition, a timetable was established to collectively use early April, to reach considered decisions and solutions, with a view for any potential changes and reductions to salaries coming into effect on April’s payroll. Talks on this basis are ongoing.

    Each club’s financial standing will vary. We are aware of the public sentiment that the players should pay non-playing staff’s salaries. However, our current position is that – as businesses - if clubs can afford to pay their players and staff, they should.

    The players we have spoken recognise that the non-playing staff are a vital part of their club and they do not want to see club staff furloughed unfairly. Any use of the government’s support schemes without genuine financial need is detrimental to the wider society.

    In instances where clubs have the resources to pay all staff, the benefit of players paying non-playing staff salaries will only serve the business of the club’s shareholders.

    We understand the severity of the situation and the challenges that clubs from all divisions face. We have requested, via the leagues, that clubs provide us with information about their financial position, so that we can make informed decisions for the future – both immediate and long-term.

    While we have a remit to protect our members, throughout our history, we have also done our utmost to protect the wider game. There are a large number of clubs within English football who would simply no longer exist without the PFA’s support. We have often been the organisation to pick up the pieces when clubs hit financial difficulty.

    We fully accept that players will have to be flexible and share the financial burden of the COVID-19 outbreak in order to secure the long-term future of their own club and indeed the wider game. Our advice going out to players at this point reflects that expectation.

    In addition, the PFA is also expecting to contribute financially to any solutions agreed upon.

    Like everyone else in the country, we are trying to deal with a situation that has never been faced. Our spirits have been lifted seeing communities come together to support each other. We have been proud to see many of our own members and clubs step up to support the NHS, to help children who would usually benefit from free school meals, donating to food banks and other charitable donations to those affected by this crisis. Much of this has been done privately and without publicity.

    We are hoping to reach an agreement with the Premier League and EFL that secures the long-term future of the clubs and protects players.

    As an industry, we are in discussions with clubs and players to identify the support we can give to our country during this difficult time.
     
    #44
  5. petersaxton

    petersaxton Well-Known Member

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    I would have thought that players would happily give up a large proportion of their salaries if it went to lower league players. I'm not so sure they would do it just to help their parent clubs. Some deal may have to be done that includes contract extensions so they can continue the season once things get better. The alternative would be for the players to go into isolation and be tested so they can be able to play behind closed doors.
     
    #45
  6. WhittlingStick

    WhittlingStick Well-Known Member

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    50% this deferral that blah blah 10% ... it’s a total kick in the balls to non playing staff (and the taxpayers) to understand at playing staff arnt being asked to live on upto £2500 per month which (considering we can’t buy lavish right now) I don’t imagine players in the top 2 tiers of football even have to worry about paying car loans , mortgages etc so it’s morally wrong to claim holiness for making a 50% cut in a £60k a week wage asterisk off .... when this is all over I hope the fans in the stands looking into the pitch remember who stepped up .
     
    #46
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  7. highpeak tiger

    highpeak tiger Well-Known Member

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    The testing would be a snapshot of who is infected at that time. The minute the players start training, any infection will spread around the squad. You would need testing once a week. Can't see it.
     
    #47
  8. highpeak tiger

    highpeak tiger Well-Known Member

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    What about players on £2000 a week who's contract ends in June?
     
    #48
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  9. Plum

    Plum Well-Known Member

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    Contractual conditions aside what would be wrong with everybody at a club, players, non-players, directors alike, taking for example a 10% pay cut? That way the govt scheme doesn't get abused, nobody loses their job, top earners would feel no pain at all but would still be seen to be contributing. The %age could be tweaked in all sorts of ways, say start at 5% for low earners, 25% for highest earners, etc.

    It's what happens in all sorts of companies when things get tough.
     
    #49
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  10. Darylhull

    Darylhull New Member

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    As they have stated only willing a deferral in wages but us ordinary workers have to take cuts/loss of job with no chance of just a deferral in pay. A lot of players & clubs are doing a lot behind the scenes to help but need an agreed policy but football is in a bubble and does not represent the real world.
     
    #50

  11. petersaxton

    petersaxton Well-Known Member

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    If the players are tested while self isolating then tested a week later they would be free to start training.
     
    #51
  12. highpeak tiger

    highpeak tiger Well-Known Member

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    Yes, but unless you keep the squad completely and totally isolated, if one catches it after testing, they will then infect the rest. You need to keep regular testing before they can meet another (fully tested) squad. As we can't test all the NHS workers, multiple tests on footballers even if affordable and do-able is not going to be popular. This does not include testing refs, officials, ball boys, journalists, trainers, managers etc who are all present. As its hardly essential for football to be played I can see the government taking a dim view as well.
    Either cancel the whole season or go with the tables as they stand, the country has more important things to deal with.
     
    #52
  13. petersaxton

    petersaxton Well-Known Member

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    I dont see why they can't resume once things get better
     
    #53
  14. highpeak tiger

    highpeak tiger Well-Known Member

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    #54
  15. highpeak tiger

    highpeak tiger Well-Known Member

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    They can, trouble is things may get better in September or later
     
    #55
  16. petersaxton

    petersaxton Well-Known Member

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    that's fine
     
    #56
  17. highpeak tiger

    highpeak tiger Well-Known Member

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    Yes if football can sort out contracts, transfer windows, wage deferments and the like.
    Also what happens to next years season?
     
    #57
  18. petersaxton

    petersaxton Well-Known Member

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    I dont see why contracts, transfer windows and wage defements, etc. can't be sorted out
    they start when they can
     
    #58
  19. Chazz Rheinhold

    Chazz Rheinhold Well-Known Member

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    I really don’t give a **** about the football season
    This isn’t about football at all trying to play is about money.scum sky will show games and the betting companies will rake it in.
    They can get to **** the lot of them
     
    #59
  20. petersaxton

    petersaxton Well-Known Member

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    I like football
    That doesn't mean I don't think the health of people isn't more important
     
    #60

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