Chelsea are the latest Premier League club to enter wage cut talks with their players and coaching staff. According to Jacob Steinberg at The Guardian, captain Cesar Azpilicueta has been representing the players and the discussions have gone well.
Chelsea and Players in Wage Cut Talks
Wage Cut Proposals
The players are said to be ready to take a 10% pay cut during the Coronavirus stoppage to help the club cut its costs. Depending on the length of the stoppage, the pay cuts would help the club tremendously, cutting the current £285 million wage by roughly £10 million.
Previously, the Premier League suggested a 30% across the board for all clubs, but many baulked at such a steep cut in pay. The Chelsea players want to secure a lower percentage pay cut as well. In so doing, they’ll continue donating to the #PlayersTogether campaign with those contributions directly going to the NHS.
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard and his staff are also close to agreeing to wage cuts.
Leaders in the Community
Southampton and West Ham United were the first two Premier League clubs to agree to wage cuts with their players. Watford and Arsenal are both coming close to agreements, as are Chelsea, who continue to be leaders in the community.
Last month, owner Roman Abramovich opened up the Millennium Hotel at Stamford Bridge to NHS workers free of charge during the pandemic. Like many other Premier League clubs, Chelsea have offered use of Stamford Bridge to help aid the relief efforts. They have helped prepare and provided over 78,000 meals to NHS workers.
Moreover, the club has and will continue to pay full time and casual staff while the Premier League remains on hold.
And now with the club, players, and coaching staff about to agree to pay cuts, they’re continuing to be leaders in the community, assisting in ways they can.
Chelsea were in fourth place when the Premier League stopped due to the Coronavirus. In the Champions League, they trail 3-0 after a first-leg home loss to Bayern Munich. In the FA Cup, the Blues were drawn against Leicester City in the quarter-finals.
All of those, of course, are on hold with on no real clarity on when, how, or if the competitions to resume.
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