Chelsea have confirmed that their players will not be taking a pay cut, but instead have been asked to make charitable contributions by the board.
The Blues had been in talks over a potential 10% pay cut, however the club released a statement this afternoon (Saturday) confirming that it won’t take place just yet.
The club have been in conversations with the players, led by captain Cesar Azpilicueta, and while other clubs have taken a pay cut, the Blues will not do right now.
The statement read: “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 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.”
Meanwhile, the club have also confirmed that they will not be talking up the government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, and that full-time workers will be fully paid.
Casual workers and match day staff will also be compensated until at least June 30.
“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,” the statement read.
“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.”
