Hull players looking to help ease cash fears, say union

HULL CITY were last night handed a boost when the Professional Footballers' Association suggested the financially-troubled club's players are willing to defer a proportion of their wages this summer.

Earlier this week, the Tigers called a meeting to ask if the players would be willing to pass up a proportion of their salaries – believed to be around 30 per cent – to help the club in the short term.

Any outstanding monies would then be paid once Hull's finances are back on a more even keel. Those with contracts containing a wage reduction clause in the event of relegation have also been asked to bring these forward from the end of June.

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PFA deputy chief executive John Bramhall said: "It is out there that the club have made that request and that process is ongoing as we speak.

"The players are broadly in favour of looking to help and support the club moving forward. Within the principle of that request, the players are looking to see if they can work with the club on that basis."

The PFA are now awaiting full details of the club's financial situation to determine the likely timescale of any deferrals and when the shortfall will be made up, before formulating their advice to the players.

Hull, whose debts stand at 35m, are desperate to slash the wage bill from the current 38.9m a year.

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Owner Russell Bartlett claimed last month this sum will fall automatically to 21m on June 30 when the wage cuts come into place, though it is believed Hull want to cut that figure by an additional 6m.

On a possible wage deferral being agreed, the PFA's Bramhall added: "We are awaiting full clarification of the figures and those are on their way.

"We have spoken to all the players, we are now fully aware of the situation with regards to contracts etc.

"It is just the financial details from the club that we are waiting for.

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"Once we have all the information we can better advise the players on this situation. We are dealing with Adam (Pearson) and we are in regular contact with him."

Hull's head of football operations, Adam Pearson, added: "We can only thank the players for looking to help."

In terms of sorting out the club's finances, reaching a settlement with manager Phil Brown, who has been on gardening leave since mid-March, is also considered a priority.

The 50-year-old has almost 14 months still to run on his 1.4m a year contract and discussions took place yesterday between the club, Brown and League Managers' Association chief executive Richard Bevan.

MK Dons have signed David Martin on a from Liverpool.