Doncaster Rovers players and staff placed on furlough leave

The decision will affect all members of Club Doncaster including Doncaster RLFC and has been made to save jobs across the organisation in light of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

Chief executive Gavin Baldwin remains hopeful that furloughed staff will return to the business as soon as it is safe and practical to do so, while admitting that the organisation felt that they had no choice but to take advantage of the government-backed Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme amid significant financial uncertainty with football - and sport - currently on shutdown.

Those furloughed will be paid up to 80 per cent of their monthly salaries up to £2,500, with the organisation to top up all wages to 100 per cent 'for as long as possible.'

Baldwin said: "It is now clear that it cannot be business as usual until we as a society have made progress in the fight against COVID-19.

"We have asked a number of staff across the group, all of whom were informed by their line managers or heads of department on Wednesday, to go into furlough.

"This means we can receive a significant payment from the Government towards their salaries - up to 80 per cent or £2,500 per month per employee - although we intend to top up all wages to 100 per cent for as long as possible.

"We have engaged positively with the PFA, EFL and RFL throughout the process and as a result the playing squads of Rovers and the Dons are included in this furlough request.

"This is a step we need to take in order to protect jobs, like other businesses in our sector we've seen our income streams dry up and with no prospect of matches returning in the near future are faced with a significant gap in our budget.

"We've appreciated the support made available from the EFL, RFL and government, and have no option but to utilise them in order to ensure we survive this crisis.

"The world has changed so much in the past few weeks - so much alters daily, in fact - that we cannot plan too far ahead, but these steps mean we will be able to put on services, matches and events of the same quality once this is all over.

"We simply don't know when that will be, but we will continue to liaise with the EFL, RFL and other relevant bodies to ensure we are prepared when that happens.

"I would like to thank the owners for their support to myself and senior managers at this difficult time, as well as everyone within the company who have continued working to the best of their ability.

"We believe passionately that our business model is sound and look forward to welcoming furloughed staff back into the business as soon as it is safe and practical to do so."