Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Matt Davies

Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti and several first-team players accept wage deferrals

Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti and several of the club's first-team players have accepted wage deferrals during the coronavirus pandemic.

Ancelotti and his backroom staff joined senior club officials by voluntarily taking cuts and deferrals of up to 30 per cent following the outbreak of the virus in March.

First-team players were able to arrange individual deferral arrangements, with some players agreeing to cut as much as 50 per cent of their wages for the following three months.

A proportion of the money saved from the deferrals has been used to support vulnerable members of the community via Everton's 'Blue Family' campaign, with around £400,000 also raised through season-ticket holder donations.

Everton owner Farhad Moshiri and chairman Bill Kenwright are also planning to equal that sum with donations of their own.

In a message to Toffees fans on Tuesday, chief executive Denise Barrett-Baxendale wrote: "Everyone taking reductions and deferrals has volunteered to do so and - on behalf of the board and, I am sure, every Evertonian - I would like to express my sincere thanks to every single one of them for demonstrating such integrity and honour in helping the Everton family through this challenging time.

(AFP via Getty Images)

"This remarkable show of unity has enabled the club to maintain the salaries of all Everton and Everton in the Community full and part-time employees - all of whom have remained in full employment throughout this period - and enabled the club to continue to pay its directly engaged matchday and non-matchday casual staff since our club lockdown began on 13 March."

Everton are due to face Merseyside rivals Liverpool on June 21 as they get their season back under way, but where the match will be held remains to be seen, with the possibility that a neutral venue will be utilised in order to ensure that fans do not congregate outside the stadium.

Barrett-Baxendale provided an update on the matter, saying: "A lot has been said about whether our first scheduled home fixture will take place at our beloved Goodison Park.

"We continue to work with our colleagues at the council and other organisations, to ensure the right decision is made for all parties and will advise you as soon as an outcome is reached.

"Whilst it may go against every instinct you have as a football fan I, most respectfully, appeal to you, on behalf of the club and players, to please stay safe and stay at home to watch our games on the television - and not to consider heading to the stadium or gathering as part of a group in any other public places."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.