PREMIERSHIP CLUBS WASPS, Gloucester and Worcester Warriors have confirmed that their staff, including players, will have to take 25% pay cuts due to the suspension of the league.
Meanwhile, Saracens say they have asked all of their players, coaches and staff to take a 25% reduction in salary.
The Premiership has been suspended until 14 April due to the Covid-19 outbreak, meaning that clubs will miss out on the financial lifeblood of hosting games at their home stadiums.
As such, several clubs will be in precarious financial positions, with Wasps, Gloucester and Worcester the first to official confirm temporary pay cuts for their staff.
Worcester announced today that the lockdown of their Sixways Stadium presents “challenges for the running of the business, in particular cash-flow.”
As a result, the club confirmed that “in the short-term, all our staff will take a 25% pay cut effective from April 1.”
Warriors added that the 25% reduction “will not apply to staff below a certain salary threshold to ensure they are protected” and that the club has “offered as much support as we can to any member of staff who may suffer particular hardship as a consequence.”
Similarly, Wasps announced that the club is “putting in place salary reductions of 25% across the majority of the rugby department until we are playing Gallagher Premiership matches again. These measures will take effect from 1st April 2020.”
Again, Wasps noted that “a number of lower paid staff will be excluded from these salary reductions.”
Gloucester, meanwhile, have “implemented a 25% salary reduction across everyone at the club in order to see us through this incredibly challenging time.”
All three clubs have stressed their intent to emerge from the current situation with viable and vibrant futures.
Saracens, who are due to be relegated from the Premiership next season due to salary cap breaches, have announced that they have asked their staff to take a similar 25% pay cut.
“This move is to protect as many jobs as possible and avoid redundancies,” reads a Saracens statement.
“We will keep this situation under review at all times and we anticipate that the pay cut will last until fixtures are re-scheduled and revenue generating activity can begin again in earnest. Our lower paid staff have been protected from this pay cut.”
