Elgin City asking players to take wage reduction to reduce effects of coronavirus shutdown
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ELGIN City are in the process of asking players to take a 67 per cent wage cut to allay the “catastrophic ramifications” of the coronavirus shutdown on the club.
With the ground and social club closed, City chairman Graham Tatters said the only way the club could make money was to save money.
He said: “We paid the players their full wages, with bonuses, for March but it can’t continue as it is.
“We have asked the players to take a wage reduction of two-thirds and the majority agreed. The ten players I spoke to all said yes, and nobody has said no. Now we are waiting for clearance from the PFA as they are giving instruction to the players.
“The ramifications of the coronavirus pandemic could be catastrophic for the club.
“You have got to put it into perspective – if you look around the country there are thousands dying. But when you are running a football club, the club is the be all and end all and it is catastrophic for us.”
Tatters says the wage reduction is expected to be temporary – but is unsure how long it will last, with the impact of this shutdown likely to be felt for many months to come.
He added: “We can only increase wages when we get money in. We have got to make sure we can afford to continue the business.
“Who knows how business will be by September. We might not be able to get sponsorship. If we don’t get support from the community we are going to struggle. That is the same for any business.”
A JustGiving appeal for City has so far raised more than £2500, with the club also being boosted by their share of a £1.5 million payment from the SFA.
But, Tatters added, finding out which grants the club is eligible for is proving tricky – and the season ending early has caused big financial problems.
“We were playing really well and were confident of making the play-offs,” he added. “We are talking of crowds of 1100 or 1200 then and that would have boosted our coffers and we would have been cash rich.
“I’m hoping the league can be finished, but I doubt it will be. I doubt we will be playing football before September – and that is optimistic. We still have the peak of this to come.”
Elgin manager Gavin Price also hopes this season can run to an end, describing the situation as a “body blow”.
He said: “I don’t see why next season should take priority over this season. It is important it runs to a conclusion
“We were expecting to get good crowds for the rest of the season so it’s a real body blow. On the park and off, it’s really upsetting for me and Graham. The club has got to raise funds from somewhere, but we are on a more stable footing than most clubs in part-time football, so hopefully we can weather the storm.
“The most important thing is not the players or the coaching staff – it’s Elgin City surving in years to come.”
In an ideal world, Price wants to see the current campaign finish before a winter break starts – with Scottish football then transitioning into summer football from March onwards.
Elgin boss says summer football is the way ahead.
