' Gary Neville Fuming '
Fri Apr 03, 2020 11:08 am
Man Utd legend Gary Neville courts controversy as he fumes at Matt Hancock for 'calling out' footballers over wage cuts
The player turned pundit has stirred up a big reaction after he took aim at health secretary Matt Hancock in a rant on Twitter
By Glen Williams
Friday 3rd April 2020
Gary Neville has criticised health secretary Matt Hancock for 'calling out' footballers over wage cuts
Manchester United legend Gary Neville has caused controversy after he took aim at health secretary Matt Hancock in a Twitter rant.
Many professional football clubs in this country, including both Cardiff City and Swansea City, have placed staff on furlough, while others have taken the difficult decision to implement wage cuts to their non-playing staff and place others on furlough as the financial impact of the coronavirus takes its toll.
However, no Premier League side has announced its players will be taking wage cuts, while only Leeds United and Birmingham City have done so in the Championship.
And, in Thursday's daily briefing, Hancock urged footballers to 'play their part' by taking pay cuts in order to ensure football clubs' costs are kept down.
"I think that everybody needs to play their part in this national effort and that means Premier League footballers too," Hancock said.
"Given the sacrifices that many people are making, including some of my colleagues in the NHS who have made the ultimate sacrifice of going into work and have caught the disease and have sadly died, I think the first thing that Premier League footballers can do is make a contribution, take a pay cut and play their part."
Neville, however, took umbrage with Hancock's comments and launched an expletive-laden tirade at the health secretary.
"I wish I was a player for 10 more mins," he wrote. "The PL [Premier League] players are more than likely working on a proposal to help clubs, communities and the NHS.
"It takes longer than 2 weeks to put together. Matt Hancock calling them out when he can’t get tests in place for NHS staff is a f@@@@@g cheek!"
Hancock's briefing came after the Commons Culture committee accused Premier League clubs of living in a "moral vacuum".
They insisted the furlough scheme was not designed for businesses such as theirs and Julian Knight, chair of the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, wrote to chancellor Rishi Sunak calling on a windfall tax to be applied to clubs who appear to be trying to cut costs by using the recently formed government scheme to their advantage.
"I am writing to express my strong dismay at the decision of certain Premier League clubs to furlough non-playing staff while continuing to pay players," he wrote in a letter.
"This two-tier system is morally wrong, especially given the extremely high wages paid to players.
"Non-playing staff keep Premier League clubs in business, ensuring the smooth running of finances, administration, kit, stadiums and player welfare.
"It is deeply unfair that these staff should take less money while players retain their full salary.
“The purpose of the coronavirus job retention scheme is not to support the economics of Premier League clubs.
“Your organisation should be role modelling a responsible approach rather than tolerating divisive practices.
“European clubs, including Bayern Munich, Juventus and Barcelona, have shown that it is possible to reach an agreement with players whereby they agree to take pay reductions for a set period.
“I would like to request that the Premier League seek to broker an agreement between member clubs to change their approach."
The Professional Footballers' Association (PFA), meanwhile, have also said players 'will have to share the financial burden', but urged clubs to continue paying their staff's wages if they can still afford to do so.
"We are aware of the public sentiment that the players should pay non-playing staff's salaries," the PFA wrote in a statement.
"However, our current position is that - as businesses - if clubs can afford to pay their players and staff, they should.
"The players we have spoken to recognise that the non-playing staff are a vital part of their club and they do not want to see club staff furloughed unfairly.
"Any use of the government's support schemes without genuine financial need is detrimental to the wider society.
"In instances where clubs have the resources to pay all staff, the benefit of players paying non-playing staff salaries will only serve the business of the club's shareholders."
The player turned pundit has stirred up a big reaction after he took aim at health secretary Matt Hancock in a rant on Twitter
By Glen Williams
Friday 3rd April 2020
Gary Neville has criticised health secretary Matt Hancock for 'calling out' footballers over wage cuts
Manchester United legend Gary Neville has caused controversy after he took aim at health secretary Matt Hancock in a Twitter rant.
Many professional football clubs in this country, including both Cardiff City and Swansea City, have placed staff on furlough, while others have taken the difficult decision to implement wage cuts to their non-playing staff and place others on furlough as the financial impact of the coronavirus takes its toll.
However, no Premier League side has announced its players will be taking wage cuts, while only Leeds United and Birmingham City have done so in the Championship.
And, in Thursday's daily briefing, Hancock urged footballers to 'play their part' by taking pay cuts in order to ensure football clubs' costs are kept down.
"I think that everybody needs to play their part in this national effort and that means Premier League footballers too," Hancock said.
"Given the sacrifices that many people are making, including some of my colleagues in the NHS who have made the ultimate sacrifice of going into work and have caught the disease and have sadly died, I think the first thing that Premier League footballers can do is make a contribution, take a pay cut and play their part."
Neville, however, took umbrage with Hancock's comments and launched an expletive-laden tirade at the health secretary.
"I wish I was a player for 10 more mins," he wrote. "The PL [Premier League] players are more than likely working on a proposal to help clubs, communities and the NHS.
"It takes longer than 2 weeks to put together. Matt Hancock calling them out when he can’t get tests in place for NHS staff is a f@@@@@g cheek!"
Hancock's briefing came after the Commons Culture committee accused Premier League clubs of living in a "moral vacuum".
They insisted the furlough scheme was not designed for businesses such as theirs and Julian Knight, chair of the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, wrote to chancellor Rishi Sunak calling on a windfall tax to be applied to clubs who appear to be trying to cut costs by using the recently formed government scheme to their advantage.
"I am writing to express my strong dismay at the decision of certain Premier League clubs to furlough non-playing staff while continuing to pay players," he wrote in a letter.
"This two-tier system is morally wrong, especially given the extremely high wages paid to players.
"Non-playing staff keep Premier League clubs in business, ensuring the smooth running of finances, administration, kit, stadiums and player welfare.
"It is deeply unfair that these staff should take less money while players retain their full salary.
“The purpose of the coronavirus job retention scheme is not to support the economics of Premier League clubs.
“Your organisation should be role modelling a responsible approach rather than tolerating divisive practices.
“European clubs, including Bayern Munich, Juventus and Barcelona, have shown that it is possible to reach an agreement with players whereby they agree to take pay reductions for a set period.
“I would like to request that the Premier League seek to broker an agreement between member clubs to change their approach."
The Professional Footballers' Association (PFA), meanwhile, have also said players 'will have to share the financial burden', but urged clubs to continue paying their staff's wages if they can still afford to do so.
"We are aware of the public sentiment that the players should pay non-playing staff's salaries," the PFA wrote in a statement.
"However, our current position is that - as businesses - if clubs can afford to pay their players and staff, they should.
"The players we have spoken to recognise that the non-playing staff are a vital part of their club and they do not want to see club staff furloughed unfairly.
"Any use of the government's support schemes without genuine financial need is detrimental to the wider society.
"In instances where clubs have the resources to pay all staff, the benefit of players paying non-playing staff salaries will only serve the business of the club's shareholders."
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Re: ' Gary Neville Fuming '
Fri Apr 03, 2020 12:02 pm
I normally like Gary Neville but he is wrong in this case
The premier league as usual is dragging its heels and by clubs laying off staff before asking players to take a pay cut is a PR disaster
As and when they come up with some kind of pay cut it’s going to look like they only did it because of public pressure
The decision makers at Premier league and PFA are basically incompetent as they have showed time and time again
Fifa, UEFA, Premier League, PFA and Agents like a rogues gallery of undesirables and I for one am pissed off with their attitudes and greed
The premier league as usual is dragging its heels and by clubs laying off staff before asking players to take a pay cut is a PR disaster
As and when they come up with some kind of pay cut it’s going to look like they only did it because of public pressure
The decision makers at Premier league and PFA are basically incompetent as they have showed time and time again
Fifa, UEFA, Premier League, PFA and Agents like a rogues gallery of undesirables and I for one am pissed off with their attitudes and greed
Re: ' Gary Neville Fuming '
Fri Apr 03, 2020 12:06 pm
oohahhPaulMillar wrote:I normally like Gary Neville but he is wrong in this case
The premier league as usual is dragging its heels and by clubs laying off staff before asking players to take a pay cut is a PR disaster
As and when they come up with some kind of pay cut it’s going to look like they only did it because of public pressure
The decision makers at Premier league and PFA are basically incompetent as they have showed time and time again
Fifa, UEFA, Premier League, PFA and Agents like a rogues gallery of undesirables and I for one am pissed off with their attitudes and greed
Same here normally he is ok but now he is taling though his A**E
Re: ' Gary Neville Fuming '
Fri Apr 03, 2020 12:09 pm
Let's see what the fottballers come up with first, same goes to all high paid sports people. However there is no problem putting pressure on them. If they want their celebrity status to return when this is all over then they know what to do.
Re: ' Gary Neville Fuming '
Fri Apr 03, 2020 12:40 pm
Bakedalasker wrote:Let's see what the fottballers come up with first, same goes to all high paid sports people. However there is no problem putting pressure on them. If they want their celebrity status to return when this is all over then they know what to do.
Exactly what I said in another thread. Give them the time to sort it out.
Harry Maguire has already reportedly asked the Man Utd squad to donate 30% of their wages.
Footballers apart, what of the other multi million pound earners in the country? What are they doing? Footballers are an easy target and it shouldn't be forgotten that they pay around £1bn a year in taxes to the government while other celebrities dodge tax on faraway islands
Re: ' Gary Neville Fuming '
Fri Apr 03, 2020 5:46 pm
If every City player donated just £500 a week out of the huge salaries they get then out club could afford to keep 30 staff on full pay. That's only 10% of a 5k a week salary. Probably like the normal guy on the street taking a £30 a week pay cut.
Pennies to them really isn't it.
I can see a big backlash from fans if players do not reduce there wages through this
Pennies to them really isn't it.
I can see a big backlash from fans if players do not reduce there wages through this