York City 'close club' and furlough all players and staff indefinitely

York City have “closed the club for the foreseeable future,” putting its players and staff on furlough because of the coronavirus outbreak.
FURLOUGHED: Manager Steve Watson and his York City players have been furloughed due to the coronavirus pandemicFURLOUGHED: Manager Steve Watson and his York City players have been furloughed due to the coronavirus pandemic
FURLOUGHED: Manager Steve Watson and his York City players have been furloughed due to the coronavirus pandemic
Read More
York City sell programmes for coronavirus call-off to help NHS charity

The Conference North season has been postponed indefinitely, and a club statement explained that “our inability to make plans with any real certainty, has had an immediate, unforeseen financial impact on the club.”

As a result, the club have closed their offices and are no longer operational.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The club shop remains open online, but the Minstermen's social media channels and website will only be updated with urgent news related to the league or coronavirus.

Chairman Jason McGill has ensured wages have been paid in full to this point, and has promised to keep all staff on 80 per cent of their wages even if York's shutdown outlasts the Government's Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. Under it, Westminster will meet four fifths of their pay to allow them to keep their jobs.

The club has promised to “continue to monitor government guidance on this topic and adapt internal policy where appropriate.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“This virus and the current crisis that surrounds us all, is bigger than the club and bigger than football,” said McGill.

“So, for now, we urge supporters to take this time to focus on their health and that of their family and friends.

“From everyone at the club, thank you for your continued support and we look forward to seeing you again soon.”

York, managed by former Sheffield Wednesday defender Steve Watson, are top of Conference North with eight matches, in theory, to play.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Editor’s note: first and foremost - and rarely have I written down these words with more sincerity - I hope this finds you well.

Almost certainly you are here because you value the quality and the integrity of the journalism produced by The Yorkshire Post’s journalists - almost all of which live alongside you in Yorkshire, spending the wages they earn with Yorkshire businesses - who last year took this title to the industry watchdog’s Most Trusted Newspaper in Britain accolade.

And that is why I must make an urgent request of you: as advertising revenue declines, your support becomes evermore crucial to the maintenance of the journalistic standards expected of The Yorkshire Post. If you can, safely, please buy a paper or take up a subscription. We want to continue to make you proud of Yorkshire’s National Newspaper but we are going to need your help.

Postal subscription copies can be ordered by calling 0330 4030066 or by emailing [email protected]. Vouchers, to be exchanged at retail sales outlets - our newsagents need you, too - can be subscribed to by contacting subscriptions on 0330 1235950 or by visiting www.localsubsplus.co.uk where you should select The Yorkshire Post from the list of titles available.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

If you want to help right now, download our tablet app from the App / Play Stores. Every contribution you make helps to provide this county with the best regional journalism in the country.

Sincerely. Thank you.

James Mitchinson

Editor