Premier League English

Managers and players on different sides of the great divide over pay cuts

In an interesting new development, even the Leagues’ top-flight managers have reportedly agreed to have their salaries reduced in the face of the coronavirus crisis but players are instead resolved to set up their own foundation instead of taking pay cuts.

The debate over how the sport’s biggest money earners can chip in to help combat the debilitating effects of the coronavirus pandemic has taken a new turn as mangers and players seem to have opposing views.

The Daily Mail reports that the majority of the top 20 Premier League managers are ‘siding with clubs’ and are ready to accept pay cuts.

Bournemouth’s Eddie Howe and Brighton’s Graham Potter were among the first to volunteer to have their salaries reduced. The Daily reports that both managers have privately ackowledged a willingness to take pay cuts during the coronavirus crisis which has brought football to a halt. Managers Jurgen Klopp of Liverpool and David Moyes of West Ham are also the latest among the Premier League managers willing to take a reduction in pay.

On the other end of the scale, players are defiantly up in arms against similar proposals for drastic pay cuts, opting instead to set up a charity foundation with Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson reported to have been key in talks over setting up the proposed foundation as players would much prefer to see their money go to the NHS and charities rather than back into the pockets of wealthy club owners. They feel this is the most effective way they can ensure the money is used in the best ways possible to militate against the deadly effects of the Covid-19 virus in more ways than one.

The huge bone of contention gnawing at the leagues club captains is that different clubs have approached the players directly rtrying to persuade them to renegotiate contracts in attempts to try to bully them into signing on the dotted line. This has resulted in stirring up genuine anger among the captains who are reportedly frustrated that they are made the culprits and being painted as the bad guys when in all fairness to them, they are actually fully committed to setting up their own charity foundation to serve the cause.

Mirror Sport reported that one club with wealthy owners has asked every player to cut their salary by 10% over the entire length of their contract, while another suggested players reduce their wages by 50 per cent during the crisis.

It’s arbitrary, indiscriminate actions like these that are provoking the captains and players to anger and resentment. After all, they have also seen with their own eyes how even huge, profitable clubs like Liverpool and Tottenham have placed staff on the Government furlough scheme.

The Premier League are now taking the stand that the limit for cuts and deferrals is 30% over a maximum of 12 months to be reviewed on a monthly basis, which all 20 clubs agreed to on Friday, with a commitment from every chief executive and chairman to agree to the same cuts.