The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust (THST) have released a response to the club’s decision to Daniel Levy’s decision to cut wages of all 550 non-playing staff by 20 per cent, with around 40 per cent furloughed on the government scheme.
The announcement came on the same day on which the club published their latest set of financial accounts which showed that Levy had been paid £7 million in salary and bonus last year despite the opening of the new stadium being delivered six months behind schedule (Guardian).
Levy has taken a 20 per cent pay cut for April and May in line with the all 550 non-playing directors and employees. However, the THST believe that the chairman could be doing more.
They have called upon the 58-year-old to make a “further personal contribution” to the club’s non-playing staff to protect the most vulnerable employees.
Spurs are the second Premier League side to apply to the government’s coronavirus job protection scheme, which allows staff to claim 80% of their wages, to a maximum of £2,500 per month following in the footsteps of Newcastle United (Guardian).
The THST said on their official site: “We are aware that no football club can impose contract changes on its playing or coaching staff without agreement with the respective unions, the PFA and LMA,”
“But there is nothing to stop the Club’s players making a voluntary contribution to ensure that the most vulnerable do not bear too great a burden.
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“And there is nothing to stop the Club’s Directors, including the Chairman, making a further personal contribution on top of their 20% wage cuts.”
They added: “We have [also] strongly recommended that the Club explains the detail and nuance [of the decision to furlough staff] to supporters with far more clarity than it has currently, and we hope it will take that advice. While all businesses, not just football clubs, need to plan for a time when what is currently unimportant becomes important again, what is done now will affect reputations in future.
“In these exceptional times, it is vital there is a sense of solidarity across the game and so we also call upon the PFA and LMA to commit to meaningful dialogue over the coming days and to reach a position that reflects well not only on elite footballers and managers but on the game as a whole.”
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