In the spirit of sportsmanship and solidarity with Leeds United, a Championship side in England, its coach, Marcelo Bielsa, players and other coaching crew, have agreed on a pay cut to enable the club meet up with its obligations to non-football staff in the club payroll.
The coach has to let go of £34,000 every week until the coronavirus pandemic which has halted football games and other businesses across the world is over.
According to a statement issued by the club on Thursday, March 26, 2020, the coach of the championship leader, his backroom staff and players have agreed to maintain the pay cut until the season kickoffs.
The statement read: “Leeds United can confirm that the players, coaching staff and senior management team have volunteered to take a wage deferral for the foreseeable future to ensure that all non-football staff at Elland Road and Thorp Arch can be paid and the integrity of the business can be maintained during these uncertain times.
“The lack of fixtures, cancellation of events, impact on ancillary revenue and closure of the football financing market will cost the club several million pounds each month.
“Following a regular catch up between chief executive Angus Kinnear, director of football Victor Orta and several senior players, the decision was made by the squad to defer part of their own salaries to ensure that the club can continue to pay all 272 members of full-time staff and the majority of casual staff for the coming months.”
Leeds United Running on Tight Budget
Earlier this week, the owner of the club, Andrea Radrizzani revealed that the postponement of the league until the COVID-19 pandemic is over could crash the club if necessary measures were not taken.
He also revealed that the club which is currently topping the table of the English championship was already running on a tight budget and would lose £2.5million by May because their last five home games won’t be played.
Also, the club’s director of football, Victo Orta said everyone at the club is “pulling together” to ensure that the club remains afloat in this period of crisis.
He said: “We face uncertain times and therefore it is important that we all work together to find a way that the club can push through this period and end the season in the way we all hope we can
“Leeds United is a family, this is the culture that has been created by everyone at the club, from the players and the board to the staff and the supporters in the stands.
“To Marcelo and his staff and all of the players, we thank them for putting our wider team first and taking care of the family.”
