The varying response to the Corona Covid 19 crisis by Barclays Premier League clubs has had some fans up in arms about their clubs laying off workers by utilising the Government's tax payer funded 80% payment scheme. Irrespective of which club is supported the general concensus in these difficult times is that it is quite frankly obscene that while workers, many living from pay packet to pay packet, are being forced to take a reduction in their wages, players continue to pick up their wages in full.
Whatever way you look at it, this cannot be correct, and is morally completely unjustifiable. Some players earn more in a month than many of the lower paid will earn in their ENTIRE adult life! Now, the players do represent an easy target, and many have wanted to help and are doing so individually, but collectively they are being told by their Union not to sign any documentation until a 'unilateral' arrangement can be worked out, well they would say that wouldn't they?
While the powers that be pontificate, people are experiencing genuine hardship, something that can be alleviated somewhat by a genuine concerted effort. It should be remembered though, that Premier League players are obligated to be paid 'on shore' meaning that 50% of their salaries go directly to the state in the form of Tax and National insurance, so perhaps the players are not as greedy as it first seems, however if you have a clear £50,000 per week going in to your bank after all deductions why shouldn't you, in these times of crisis, go the extra mile and make an extra donation?
A 20% donation would be significant not only in the short term, but also when the Pandemic is finally over it will show people that we really are 'in it together'. David Sullivan, not the most popular person on the planet, and Baroness Brady, most definitely not the most popular person, and dear old David Gold are no fools, and so have thought long and hard about how to approach the sensitive issue of wages for staff. As yet there have been no sweeping declarations or statements, perhaps because unlike many clubs, many of the match day staff were not employed directly by the club and are part of an army of zero hour workers employed by the various security and catering sub contractors.
Whatever the Irons hierarchy decide, they will be extremely mindful of how unpopular they are with the vast majority of fans, consequently their actions will be under the microscope, and surely even the blindest of advisers would tell them now is the time to show generosity, not avarice!
The 'great' and the 'good' of the Premier League 'top' honcho's will engage in a virtual meeting later today, to rubber stamp a further postponement of when football will be played again this season, or if it can be played at all. It is to be hoped that West Ham United emerge having acted honorably, and don't 'do a Levy'. - Ed
Comments
The actor
James McAvoy donated 275k to the NHS,the overpaid prem players could at least match it
Too true 65,from the time
Too true 65,from the time they are about 20,they must be earning in the region of 50k a week.
We all know the wages are
We all know the wages are obscene and this could be the leveller the game has been waiting for...I'm all for every man / woman getting what they can but these days the gap between CEO's and top business heads and the people who actually do their graft is way out of line. How it's all fixed and rules put in place is way beyond my economic nouse but I'm sure it wouldn't be too difficult to sort out fair and square. They still get the fast cars and loose women but not the excesses of which they have become accustomed over the past 20 years or so. Anyone...?
I agree with everything you
I agree with everything you said,in any walk of life you will always have someone with more,but it has got drastically beyond comprehension,and needs looking at.
Dissapointed with PFA.
A bit disappointed to see the PFA rejecting a 30% pay cut- what's so special about professional footballers anyway?? when everybody else has their wages reduced most of the premiership players, earn more in a week than most of us earn in a year so don't tell us that they can't afford it. And PFA coming out with a load of crap about how it would harm the NHS and would cost them 200 million in lost taxes. What about the-playing staff from the coach to the hot dog seller wondering if they will still have a job Some of the players won't worry if Their team folds(and mark my words there will be a few particularly in lower leagues)and the players will go and play for another club, they won't be out of work- wondering where the next penny is coming from to keep their family
I love my football but this attitude is right out of order. And their union comes across as right greedy ba$t£rds. And I feel sure that most of these players do not agree with their opinion, Tevez reckons that if he was not paid for 5 years he would have more than enough to live on James MC Avoy donated £275,000 to the NHS wonder who else is going to do the right thing and give money to the NHS and how many are going to hide, and not say a word??
And Liverpool are now going
And Liverpool are now going to 'take advantage' of the tax payer funded 80% income scheme scandlous!
Its a terrible stuation all
Its a terrible stuation all round,and lineker is holding in with it,hes a tosser all day long.
They disgust me him Neville
They disgust me mate, him, neville and now rooney putting his 2 bobs worth in, clints the lot of em.
Agree stan
Rooneys not the brightest bulb in the box,but apparently him & lineker are the spokesmen!!lineker saying the wealthy should contribute....lol
Liverpool are in it for the
Liverpool are in it for the greater good. by seeeking the income scheme they keep hundreds of hub cap stealers in employment which in turn benefits the motor industry as the players just go out and buy a new car as it's too hard to change the wheel!
It is scandalous
Another nail in the coffin for modern day football,they are so out of touch its unreal...one thing this pandemic has proved & that is there are more important things in life than watching a load of over paid prima Donna's prancing around a football pitch
Spot on mate,these moneyvirus
Spot on mate,these moneyvirus footballers shouldn’t have to be told to take a pay cut they should of been leading the way but to be fair I bet a lot of them don’t even know what club they play for it’s just money money.
Well said 65 and moore 6,we
Well said 65 and moore 6,we all knew it,but i think this has opened many peoples eyes,to the attitude to these jumped up players,and most of those in modern day football,i wouldnt be at all surprised if there were some season ticket holders not renewing.................Will i renew?????? You guessed it,of course i will,i have been going so long,its in my system lol,but there is alot in football today i dont like,and the way it works,i didnt feel like that years ago,as is the way the world is also.
Good for you Essex
I admire the likes of you & Dartford for still putting yourself through the torture!! Before 2016 I would never have thought that in 2020 me & my whole family couldn't give a monkeys about watching westham live at home ever again.it isn't just the move but it's the board,mercenary players,the modern game,the greed,VAR...the list is endless
yes agree
Barcelona and the likes of messy have done the right thing so why don't our teams do the same it will get the fans back on track and supporting their team again when this is all over.Like 65 says we will just see over paid prima donna's kicking a football around !!!!