01 Apr 2020 21:51:41
Is it just me or is anybody else feeling slightly appalled with the news Spurs and Newcastle have furloughed their non-playing staff amid the uncertainty of the corona virus pandemic, effectively condemning most to a significant pay cut and relying on the Government to now pay their wages.

This news leaves me feeling queasy and questioning the morality of our game. With the star players and the prawn sandwich brigade continuing to rake in millions what does it say about a Club that claims it can no longer afford to pay its poorest staff?

No doubt the world will eventually recover from this virus but what will be the human cost.

Football is the people's game, it brings us joy and distraction from everyday life but it should never forget its roots. It should never turn it's back or forget it's life's blood and will do so at its peril.

In times of crisis we get to see people's true colours. We have people dying in our hospitals, brave health care professionals working around the clock desperately trying to save lives, whilst risking their own, millions of others are unable to work, businesses are going bust and many people are being pushed towards poverty all whilst owners, directors, managers and players of some of our biggest football clubs continue to live in their bubble, protected by their wealth and status. Now we have two of our most famous Clubs claiming they can no longer afford to pay their poorest staff and relying on government assistance. With the enormous wealth in the game at the highest level how can this be right?

I hope at Man Utd we don't go down the same route. I hope we have the moral courage and strength of character to continue to pay all staff their full wages until this crisis is over. I hope the players recognise this and accept pay reductions if necessary, if we have to forgo our transfer budget to ensure all members of staff are protected and valued then it must be done. We must show at Man Utd that every single person is valued and respected right down from the ticket office to the highest paid player. We must come out from this crisis united with our morality in check. The Club must recognise that its entire staff are important and in a world where millions are suffering it did what it could to look after its own. That's the least it can do in these turbulent times.


1.) 01 Apr 2020
01 Apr 2020 22:12:10
Immoral, appalling, unacceptable, ignorant, I could go on. Clubs putting the workers into furlough whilst continuing to pay players £100,000s a week is just unacceptable.

Let’s assume a average salary of £30,000 and the requirement to cover 4 months pay, £7,500. If we take a player who commits £100,000 to the cause the that would cover 13 people for 4 months. Surely players could cover off no-playing staff during this crisis, it’s not like the top players are going to go hungry is it? A handful of players committing a weeks pay would sort out the non playing staff but it’s not likely to happen is it?

{Ed004's Note - Havent united already confirmed that they will pay all staff as expected over the next few months for all postponed games and will pay them again if they are eventually played? I dont think it's fair to blame the players. Yes it has been brilliant to see the likes of Howe and other clubs players volunteer to take pay cuts to cover employees wages but it should be the responsibility of the billionaire owners like Ashley and Levy to cover their staffs wages. The furlough was put in to help struggling companies but ofc a few were going to take advantage of the situation and I'm not surprised by the clubs that have taken this action}


2.) 01 Apr 2020
01 Apr 2020 23:09:42
DLIB best post I’ve seen in a while. Couldn’t agree more. The Premier League obsession with money is pretty sickening.
Has to be said the government’s job security scheme is highly flawed and wide open for cash rich companies to take advantage of, but seriously some of these clubs have limited morals.


3.) 02 Apr 2020
02 Apr 2020 00:18:48
Ed004 - Of course it should be the responsibility of the owners to treat their staff with compassion and respect but sadly some would rather see other people foot the bill to protect their assets!

This virus does not distinguish between rich or poor. Nobody is immune and everybody is at risk. In a national effort where everybody is being asked to be socially responsible, to self isolate, to help slow the spread of the virus and to protect each other sadly some of our biggest football Clubs seemingly want to absolve their responsibility in order to protect revenue, turning their backs on their employees and expecting the public to foot the bill.

It is my understanding that the government will guarantee 80% of a workers wage up to a maximum of £2500 per month. That means every worker will lose at least 20% of their monthly wage. If the figures in the press are accurate this effects around 550 employees at each Club, for the sake of argument if the Club paid all its workers the maximum £2500 per month each for three months it would cost the Club just over £4.1m over a three month period to keep everyone employed. Are you trying to tell me that saving £4m over a three month period would make a significant difference to the Clubs finances? I just can't understand why Clubs the size of Spurs and Newcastle can't afford to cover their staff wages?

Once again it's the poorest people in society being asked to shoulder the burden of national and international crisis because the rich refuse to share their wealth. Ultimately it will the tax payer that foots the bill whilst football expects the world just to turn a blind eye and continue as normal.

Should we have to potentially stomach watching Spurs spend millions in the transfer market lavishing Mr Mourinho with cash when it couldn't even afford to pay its staff wages!

Football needs to get its house in order and re-evaluate its priorities!

{Ed004's Note - I couldn't agree more DLIB. It's nice hearing that barcelona players sacrificed an additional 2% of their wages so staff were not out of pocket. However, at the same time, I don't think that should be expected of them. The clubs make enough money and should be expected to cover their own staffs wages}


4.) 02 Apr 2020
02 Apr 2020 12:24:51
It's a sad state of affairs and just further goes to show how far removed football clubs are becoming from the people they exist to entertain.

Not that it will ever happen but I wish the FA and the Government would come together and agree some sort of a pact where the FA impose a two window transfer ban on all club's that either lay off staff or take tax payers money to pay them.

If you can't afford to pay your staff then you can't afford to spends millions in the transfer market.

Sadly that will never happen.


5.) 03 Apr 2020
02 Apr 2020 22:47:29
DLIB,

Excellent post there matey.