Arsenal are in “productive and ongoing conversations” with players over wage cuts and deferrals to help overcome the financial challenges caused by Covid-19, while the executive team have agreed to a substantial salary deduction.
The club failed to get the squad to accede to a 12.5 per cent reduction over 12 months, which included clauses over future contracts and transfers.
The proposal required the majority of the group to vote in favour, but the result was split on Monday afternoon.
Talks are ongoing and while it is a complex negotiation, Arsenal are optimistic that an appropriate resolution will be reached.
Earlier this month, the club’s executive staff volunteered to waive more than a third of their earnings over the next year.
In a statement, Arsenal confirmed that they have communicated to their employees that they “are not considering redundancies, and are fully focussed on protecting their well-being, jobs and salaries.”
Staff are receiving full pay and there is no intention to use the government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and Arsenal have also extended their commitment to pay casual workers on their payroll from the end of April to the end of May.
“Our players have been keeping very busy during this difficult period, working hard at home on both their fitness and tactical work while training is suspended,” Arsenal’s statement read. “Over the past 10 days we have been in discussions with them around the potential financial challenges ahead, and how we are planning for those now.
“These are productive and ongoing conversations around how our players might support their club in an appropriate way.
“We have not and will not make any comment on this matter until these private discussions have concluded.”
