MOT View: Leeds can look down on EFL rivals if they go through with reported shameful decision
Leeds United are one of the clubs that have led the way with pay deferrals amid the current coronavirus pandemic.
Last month, the Leeds squad and staff decided to indefinitely defer their wages so that non-footballing staff are able to continue earning their usual wage while there is no work for them.
It was an extremely classy move by Leeds’ players with Marcelo Bielsa and Victor Orta among others who took an indefinite pay cut to help out those who work at the club who could struggle financially through this certain period.
The UK government has offered support to companies who are going to struggle to pay their employees at the moment.
As reported by BBC News, businesses can claim 80 per cent of their employees’ wages from the government, up to £2,500 per person, per month before tax.
Shamefully, elite Premier League clubs like Liverpool and Tottenham have decided to take advantage of this, placing them on temporary leave [BBC Sport]. Newcastle, Bournemouth, Burnley and Norwich have also followed a similar route.
In February, Liverpool announced a pre-tax profit of £42million but as it stands, no players have taken pay deferrals like Leeds have.
Now, it seems that clubs in the Championship will take a similar route with Sun journalist Alan Nixon reporting that Nottingham Forest are looking to furlough non-playing staff.
It truly is shameful that people within football are earning millions and millions a year, yet clubs are relying on taxpayers’ money to cover non-playing staff wages at this time.
Yes, the coronavirus pandemic is having a major impact on football’s economy but these clubs need to look at the bigger picture.
Do their players need to be earning thousands-a-week while they’re not playing? Does the government need these multi-million-pound businesses taking advantage of a scheme that is supposed to be in place for those who are struggling?
Some clubs will need to use this scheme to stay afloat but there is no way that top clubs in the Premier League and Championship should be.
They all need to take a leaf out of Leeds’ book.
In other Leeds United news, this once-mainstay for Bielsa has become a fringe player.