Premier League: What is your top-flight club doing to plug the coronavirus cashflow gap?
- Published
The coronavirus outbreak has cleared the English football calendar indefinitely, leaving clubs up and down the country with difficult decisions to make as their cashflow dries up.
One of the toughest decisions is what to do about paying players and non-playing staff.
Politicians, the Premier League, the Professional Footballers' Association and some players have all spoken publicly on the issue in the last few days...
Several clubs have chosen to furlough some staff so far. Here is a round-up of what Premier League clubs have announced regarding pay so far...
Arsenal
Arsenal's first-team players and head coach Mikel Arteta have agreed a 12.5% pay cut, with "agreed amounts" to be paid back if the Gunners hit certain targets including Champions League qualification.
The club's executive team will waive more than a third of their earnings over the next 12 months, while all other employees are to receive their salaries in full. The club will not be using the government's job retention scheme.
Casual workers will be paid for the remaining four home matches, as well as being paid again should the games be rearranged.
Aston Villa
The club announced on 25 April that "first-team players, first-team coaches and senior management" were deferring 25% of their salaries for four months, with a further review at the end of that period.
Non-football staff (full-time and part-time) will be paid in full and will not be furloughed.
Bournemouth
Bournemouth became the third Premier League club to change their decision to furlough staff members on 14 April, following similar moves from Liverpool and Tottenham.
They had said on 1 April they were using the government’s furlough scheme, placing “a number of staff” on leave.
Manager Eddie Howe, assistant boss Jason Tindall, chief executive Neill Blake and technical director Richard Hughes have also taken "significant" voluntary pay cuts amid the crisis - Howe being the first Premier League boss to do so.
Brighton
Brighton head coach Graham Potter, deputy chairman and chief executive Paul Barber and technical director Dan Ashworth have each taken a "significant" voluntary pay cut for the next three months.
Barber has written to staff to warn that there “may be rougher seas ahead” but reassured them that “all our people, and their families, remain our priority” and has said the club have not made a decision on furloughing yet.
Staff affected will receive 80% of their salary through the government's job retention scheme and the club will make up the difference.
Burnley
Burnley have promised to continue to pay all matchday and non-matchday casual staff during the current shutdown.
Chelsea
Chelsea announced on 25 April that they will continue to pay all staff in full and will not be using the government's job retention scheme.
Crystal Palace
Chairman Steve Parish promised on 18 March that all employees will receive full pay during the coronavirus outbreak and that matchday staff would not lose out as a result of the suspension of the season.
Everton
Everton have said they have no plans to use the furlough system at this time. But the matter remains under review and may depend on how long current situation lasts.
Leicester City
Leicester City say they will not be using the government's job retention scheme and have announced a number of initiatives, external after talks with their players and senior management
Among them are a charities framework involving the first team players, management and staff from the stadium and training ground.
The club say they will help University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust and Age UK Leicestershire & Rutland.
Liverpool
Liverpool have reversed their decision to place some non-playing staff on temporary leave and apologised to fans.
Staff affected would have received 80% of their salary through the government's job retention scheme with the club making up the difference, but the club changed their position after a fierce backlash.
Manchester City
Manchester City will pay their entire non-playing staff in full and have confirmed they will not make use of the government's job retention scheme.
"We remain determined to protect our people, their jobs and our business while at the same time doing what we can to support our wider community at this most challenging time for everybody," said City in a statement.
Manchester United
Manchester United have told staff members the club will not be using the government's job retention scheme.
The club sent an email to all 900 full-time employees telling them they would carry on being paid as normal.
Newcastle
Newcastle United were the first Premier League club to place their non-playing staff on temporary leave.
The government will therefore subsidise 80% of workers' pay, but the club will top-up the remaining 20% (and more if it is above the maximum £2,500 a month allowed by the government) to ensure that staff will receive 100% of their pay. The decision will then be reviewed at the end of April.
Norwich
Norwich have also made use of the government’s job retention scheme, with the club topping up the 80% pay so that staff will receive their full salary.
The club have also donated more than £200,000 to help those in need in Norfolk, made up of the playing squad, coaching staff and executive team donating a percentage of their salaries.
Sheffield United
Sheffield United players, manager Chris Wilder, chief executive Stephen Bettis and senior coaches have agreed partial pay and bonus deferrals.
The Blades have furloughed some permanent and casual staff but will continue to pay them in full.
Furloughed staff members "have been given the green light to sign up for the NHS volunteering scheme or similar initiatives in lieu of regular employment at Bramall Lane or other club sites," the club said.
Southampton
Southampton are the first Premier League club to announce their players will defer part of their salaries.
Manager Ralph Hasenhuttl and his staff, as well as the board of directors, will also adopt the measure until June.
The Saints also said they will not be using the government's furlough scheme during April, May and June and all staff not deferring their salaries will "continue to receive 100% of their pay".
Tottenham Hotspur
On 31 March, Tottenham announced that all 550 non-playing staff were taking a 20% pay cut, initially for two months.
The club reversed the decision to use the current job retention scheme for some non-playing staff on 13 April following strong criticism from supporters.
Only the board, including chairman Daniel Levy, who earned £7m last year, will now take salary reductions.
Watford
Watford are set to agree wage deferrals with their first-team squad, while senior management and executives are also expected to agree to deferrals.
The club have no current plans to use the furlough scheme and will continue to pay all staff members.
West Ham
West Ham became the second Premier League club to announce that their players will defer part of their wages following a similar move from Southampton.
Manager David Moyes, vice-chairman Karren Brady and finance director Andy Mollett will take a 30% pay cut.
Joint chairmen David Sullivan and David Gold and shareholders are putting £30m into the club.
West Ham say the payments will help retain jobs and allow them to pay 100% of non-playing staff salaries.
The club are also supporting requests from employees who wish to volunteer for the NHS.
Wolves
No staff are being furloughed with Wolves chairman Jeff Shi previously vowing that "all of our staff will of course continue to be paid for the duration of the club's closure and this period of uncertainty".
The remaining clubs may have announced donations or schemes to help the local community and the NHS but have yet to publicly announced what they are doing about pay.