MANCHESTER UNITED will continue to pay their 900 non-playing staff in full and not claim government cash, according to reports.
The Old Trafford club look set to follow the example from neighbours City who confirmed they are not putting workers on furlough with the season suspended.
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Champions League finalists Liverpool and Tottenham caused outrage by making the most of the government initiative.
S0me staff must rely on taxpayers’ money to fund up to 80 per cent of their monthly wages.
However, according to the Daily Mail, Manchester United are going to inform their employees this week that they will get paid as usual despite the lack of football.
The report adds that the Red Devils are also encouraging workers to volunteer to help in the battle against coronavirus.
They had previously announced plans to pay their matchday staff for the rest of the season.
And their decision mirrors that of City, who ruled out following in the footsteps of Spurs and Liverpool and instead put the minds of their employees at rest.
An Etihad spokesperson said: “We can confirm, following a decision by the chairman and board last week, that Manchester City will not be utilising the government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
“We remain determined to protect our people, their jobs and our business while at the same time doing what we can to support our wider community at this most challenging time for everybody.”
Despite a £533million turnover and splashing out £43.8m to agents last year, Liverpool furloughed around half of the club’s 675 non-playing staff.
The decision was widely criticised, including by former players Jamie Carragher, Dimi Hamman and Stan Collymore as well as the Spirit of Shankly supporters’ group.
The fan group’s chair Joe Blott wrote in an open letter to the Anfield club: “You will have seen the overwhelmingly negative fan reaction to the club’s announcement stating their intention to furlough a number of employees.
“We understand this is essentially an employee/employer issue but as LFC’s recognised official supporter representatives we are concerned about the damage this is causing to our club’s reputation and values.”
Newcastle, Norwich and Bournemouth have also made moves to stop paying staff.
The Premier League called on players to take a 30 per cent pay cut in order to “protect employment throughout the professional game”.
But the Professional Footballers’ Association hit out at the move, suggesting the proposed slash of wages would cost the government £200m in tax revenue.
As revealed by SunSport, Premier League clubs fear they are being pushed into an unwanted war with their players by top-flight rivals.
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Teams are alarmed by the PFA’s rejection of the proposal for ALL players to take a wage cut or pay deferral of up to 30 per cent.
And while some billionaire club owners are ready for a confrontation, others want to ease off and reach an amicable compromise agreement with the players’ union, who fear the wage-cut proposal will cost the Government £200million in lost taxes.
SunSport reported how Premier League stars are refusing to bail out their clubs as English football heads towards civil war.
It was initially thought that players were ready to buy into their proposal for a wage cut or deferral of up to 30 per cent designed to stave off financial meltdown caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
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But it now understood that footballers – who are committed and willing to making big sacrifices – want to help out the NHS and charities instead of mega-rich club owners by ensuring the cut of their wages actually goes towards supporting the community.
A WhatsApp group has been formed where players are urging each other to stand strong together, with one club skipper labelling pay cut plans as “disgusting”. They add how the footballers are uniting to reject the plans and not break rank.
Manchester United legend Gary Neville blasted the top flight for “handling the coronavirus crisis terribly”.
He said: “The Premier League are handling the coronavirus crisis terribly. Slow to lockdown, tried one last weekend of games.
“Furloughing straight away a PR disaster. Turning on players publicly, trying to blindside them. No increase in funding for EFL, National League. All stakeholders unhappy with their approach.”
In a second tweet, Neville added: “Football has too many stakeholders with different interests. They all meet regularly and say they collaborate but when s*** hits the fan, the Premier League has all the power and go solo!
“It’s unravelling before our eyes. A re-alignment for all clubs, fans and the game would be welcome.”
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