Premier League players’ ‘backs against wall’ over virus: Rose

Published April 5, 2020
Newcastle, where Danny Rose is on loan, and his parent club, Tottenham, are among clubs to have furloughed some non-playing staff. — AFP
Newcastle, where Danny Rose is on loan, and his parent club, Tottenham, are among clubs to have furloughed some non-playing staff. — AFP

LONDON: Newcastle defender Danny Rose says footballers feel their “backs are against the wall” over talks about wage cuts, with Premier League clubs due to speak with players’ representatives on Saturday.

Top-flight stars, currently out of action due to the coronavirus, have come under fire after a number of clubs furloughed non-playing staff but left players’ wages untouched.

The Premier League said on Friday that clubs would consult players over a combination of pay cuts and deferrals amounting to 30 percent of their annual salary.

They also agreed to provide a 125 million ($153 million) fund for the English Football League and National League and pledged 20 million in charitable support for the National Health Service and other groups.

Newcastle, where Rose is on loan, and his parent club, Tottenham, are among clubs to have furloughed some non-playing staff.

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe and Brighton counterpart Graham Potter have both taken voluntary wage cuts.

“We’re all keen to make something happen,” Rose told the BBC. “I can only speak for myself but I would have no problems whatsoever contributing some of my wages to people who are fighting this on the front line and to people who have been affected by what’s happening at the minute.”

On Friday, a hospital in London identified Rose as the individual behind a 19,000 donation to hospital funds.

Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson led talks between Premier League club captains over what action they could take, a move that begun before Health Secretary Matt Hancock on Thursday joined those singling out footballers.

“We sort of feel our backs are against the wall,” Rose said. “Conversations were being had before people outside of football were commenting.

“I’ve been on the phone to Jordan Henderson and he’s working so hard to come up with something.

“It was just not needed for people who are not involved in football to tell footballers what they should do with their money. I found that so bizarre.”

Wolves captain Conor Coady said it was time for players to help out.

“What’s come out now is the 30 percent cut,” he said. “We get judged every single day of our lives. The time now is to go forward and make a donation.”

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder has backed players and managers to “do the right thing” by taking a pay cut.

“A lot of footballers, past and present, have got a huge conscience about what we do and doing the right thing,” he told the BBC.

Wilder said any decisions made should be taken in a united way.

He added: “It is important we get it right and don’t go individual. It is a little bit disappointing now when you see clubs making individual statements and going their own way.”

Burnley said they would face a shortfall of up to 50 million if the Premier League season could not be completed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“It’s a completely unprecedented situation that we and other Premier League clubs face and which we could not have foreseen in any way only just a few weeks ago,” said Burnley chairman Mike Garlick.

“It’s now not just about Burnley or any other individual club any more, it’s about the whole football ecosystem from the Premier League downwards and all the other businesses and communities that feed from that ecosystem.”

Published in Dawn, April 5th, 2020

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.