Decision on deferral of footballers’ wages still some way off

Bradford City players are amongst staff furloughed at Valley Parade, as are Sheffield Wednesday and Middlesbrough, but unlike some Premier League clubs, all three will make up the shortfall in wages.

The Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme covers 80 per cent of wages of furloughed staff up to £2,500 per month, per employee, to allow them to keep their jobs.

The suspension of matches until at least April 30 has deprived clubs of vital income, and cancelling the season as an increasing number are suggesting could leave the Premier League alone unable to deliver televised games worth around three-quarters of a billion pounds to broadcasters.

The Football League set up a £50m fund to help its clubs.

Premier League clubs Tottenham Hotspur, Norwich City, Bournemouth and Newcastle United have also furloughed non-playing staff, including the Magpies’ entire recruitment team, in some cases without them making up the shortfall.

Bournemouth’s Eddie Howe is believed to be the first Premier League manager to volunteer for a pay cut.

PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor has called for clubs to be banned from signing or resigning players while they have others deferring salaries.

Leeds United’s players have taken a lead on deferrals, something top European clubs, including Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Juventus, have done. Most English clubs are holding off in the hope of a uniform approach across the top four divisions.

A decision is expected later this week, with a key meeting to plan a more general way forward due tomorrow.

Meanwhile, UEFA have agreed to further postpone the Euro 2020 qualifying play-offs, which they initially moved from March to June, Champions League and Europa League until further notice, as well as cancelling and postponing other tournaments.

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