Chelsea
say first-team players "will not be contributing towards the club
financially" following discussions amid the coronavirus crisis, but have
been asked to support charities instead.
Earlier this month, Sky Sports News reported that Chelsea's players were in
talks about taking a 10 per cent pay cut as part of their response to the
outbreak, with director Marina Granovskaia holding discussions with captain
Cesar Azpilicueta over the issue.
It is understood that an agreement has not been reached yet but the talks
have been amicable and constructive and there has been no falling out. The
talks will continue but it is a complicated situation because different
players are on different contracts.
While talks about a wage cut continue, the club have encouraged players to
carry on with their own charity work and they are happy to do so.
A club statement on Saturday indicated that the players will not be taking a
salary reduction at this time, with Chelsea saying they had instead been
asked to support "other charitable causes", while also confirming that the
Blues will not be using the government's Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
"Representatives of the Chelsea board have recently held extensive talks
with the men's first team to discuss how they can contribute financially to
the club during the coronavirus crisis," the statement said.
"The objective of these talks has been to find a meaningful partnership
around ensuring we preserve jobs for staff, compensate fans and participate
in activities for good causes.
"We are grateful to the team for having played their role in assisting the
club with community activities as well as all the charitable causes they
have been supporting in their respective home countries and through the
Players Together initiative supporting the NHS.
"At this time, the men's first team will not be contributing towards the
club financially and instead the board have directed the team to focus their
efforts on further supporting other charitable causes. As this crisis
develops the club will continue to have conversations with the men's first
team regarding financial contributions to the club's activities."
Chelsea not using government furloughing
scheme
Chelsea also confirmed that they will not be using the government's
furloughing scheme for non-playing staff and say they are not planning on
making anyone redundant.
Roman Abramovich is understood to be 100 per cent committed to the club and
will continue to make sure every single employee is paid in full and that
all charity work continues.
"The club can confirm we will not be taking advantage of the Government's
current Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme which runs to 30 June. We are not
planning any general redundancies or furloughs for our full-time staff who
are continuing to be paid 100 per cent of their current wages.
"Casual workers and match day staff employed by the club are being
compensated by us through 30 June as if matches had been played and we had
been operating as normal.
"We are continuing our current level of financial and other support to our
professional women players and also to our women's academy programmes. Our
women's team and staff have been very supportive of our charitable
activities during this crisis which has been appreciated by both the club
and the respective charities."
The club also plans to reimburse supporters who made non-refundable travel
arrangements to go to Germany for their Champions League clash with Bayern
Munich on March 18.
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