Coronavirus: Leeds United players & staff set to take wage deferral

Published at :March 27, 2020 at 12:07 AM

Modified at :March 28, 2020 at 9:04 PM

The pandemic has affected more than 9,000 people in the United Kingdom.

The players, coaching staff along with the senior management of Leeds United have decided to take a wage deferral in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. Accordingly, Marco Biesla and his players have voluntarily given up their salaries for the “foreseeable future”.

There are 272 full-time non-football staff members at Leeds United currently. This move by the squad and the management will ensure that the club is able to pay the staff properly. Currently, Championship football is suspended due to the pandemic as the situation has turned dismal in the country.

The Director of Football at Leeds United, Victor Orta said, “My players have demonstrated an incredible sense of unity and togetherness. To Marcelo and his staff and all of the players, we thank them for putting our wider team first and taking care of family.”

The club have estimated the impact of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic to cost them several million pounds each month. Leeds United are set to lose money due to the postponement/cancellation of fixtures and the closure of the football financing market.

The first-team squad of The Peacocks released a joint statement that stated, “We face uncertain times and therefore it is important that we all work together to find a way that the club can push through this period and end the season in the way we all hope we can.”

Leeds United believe that the money saved through this call would also mean that a significant number of the casual staff would continue to be paid. The footballers from German clubs in particular have led the way in helping out their clubs in the current scenario. Recently, Union Berlin’s squad announced that they would give up their wages in order to aid the club. Borussia Moenchenglandbach, Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich players have all undertaken similar decisions.

Leeds United are currently at the top of the points table, as they have gained 71 points from 37 matches.