Chris Wilder says Sheffield United deferral 'no big deal' as club sticks together

Chris Wilder says Sheffield United's wage deferral is “no big deal” and a sign of the unity which has been behind the club's success.
SACRIFICE: Chris Wilder has deferred a portion of his wages for six monthsSACRIFICE: Chris Wilder has deferred a portion of his wages for six months
SACRIFICE: Chris Wilder has deferred a portion of his wages for six months
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Wilder, chief executive Stephen Bettis, the senior coaching staff and the players have all agreed to defer a proportion of their pay and bonuses for six months during the coronavirus to help the club cope with the cashflow problems thrown up by no matches.

“It's the least we can do to play our part,” said Wilder. “We were asked by the football club and we’ve been in talks about it through Billy (Sharp, the captain) as well. It's important to look after the club in the right way.

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“I've had some lovely messages thanking me, but it’s not a huge deal, the players will say that.

“Our profession got a bit of bad press at the start, people coming out with stuff they didn’t need to, but the players have handled it magnificently. The staff support our decisions, of me and Steve Bettis, and in the next six months this might help the club so it’s the least we can do.”

Southampton, West Ham United and Watford's players have reached similar agreements, most of the Arsenal players have accepted a pay cut and Chelsea's are thought to be close, but other clubs have found it difficult to get unanimity, although the Premier League captains were quick to set up the Players Together charity to raise funds for NHS workers. Wilder sees unity as one of the big strengths at Bramall Lane.

“The club’s at its most powerful when it’s been together and it certainly wasn’t four years ago when I took over,” he said. “There was no connection between any part of the football club but you’ve seen since that I’m prepared to make big decisions on behalf of the football club and the football club has to have the power over everything else and it has to be strong and be united.

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“Everyone who comes in has to recognise the fundamental aspects that make us strong. I’m sure that equates to what happens out on the pitch as well. We’re not individuals, it’s not about them or how much we’re getting.

“We’re all healthily paid. It’s been a hell of a long journey to get to the top of the mountain and we’re trying to stay there. There will be bigger hurdles to get over but I want to establish this club in the Premier League for years to come. It’s not the time to take a backward step or take a breath and relax, we have to keep the hammer down.

“Because we can’t do it in the way some other clubs have done it, we have to find a different way to gain results. To do that we have to be together and we certainly have been on this subject.

“I'm delighted with what the captains did. We know all the clubs in our region do a lot of charity work that goes unnoticed and they don’t want patting on the back for it, they do it because they want to do it and they enjoy doing it and putting a stamp back on the city.”

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This week the Dutch Eredivisie followed Belgium's league in abandoning the season. The Premier League and Football League stances are still that they want 2019-20 to come to a conclusion and Wilder thinks it is important not just for the integrity of those competitions, but the morale of the nation as a whole.

“It’s really difficult,” he acknowledged. “There’s so much speculation going on and the Premier League and EFL and UEFA are working away, we all are. No one’s sat in the garden with our feet up trying to cruise through.

“But we don’t know, we’re all taking our lead off the Government.

“I hope we don’t follow the Dutch league. I think it came as a shock and a surprise how quickly things happened, we were getting ready to go up to Newcastle for a game, the very quickly the Man City game was postponed and we're suddenly in lockdown.

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“I said I didn’t want to play behind closed doors (because) the passion of packed stadiums is something we all relish as supporters, players and staff, but that has been taken away from us, rightly so, and football has gone down the list of priorities.

“But I’m a big believer we should finish the season. Let’s not talk about next season, let's talk about finishing this season off when it’s safe and healthy for everyone concerned.

“I think it's important we complete the season from a morale point of view that we get some football back up and running and I know there's huge enthusiasm from everyone in the game.”

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