Coronavirus and Football (Plus all Sport in General)

[RedAndWhite]

Maybe it is just me but I do not see the problem with this by the club. From a football perspective we are a big deal, but from the overall scheme of things football clubs, even the big ones are at best medium sized companies. And all this at a time where football as a collective has seen a massive fall in income and no real idea when things will return to anything approaching normal. Its easy to forget that the club employ several hundred people in various roles so the costs will be real and anything the club can do to mitigate these costs should be done.

This opinion may make me unpopular but I wonder if the same people who are the most adamant about the club paying everything from there own pockets would be happy if when things return to normal the club turn around and say we cannot afford to sign a player or similar as we do not have the funds available.

[baitman]

Maybe it is just me but I do not see the problem with this by the club. From a football perspective we are a big deal, but from the overall scheme of things football clubs, even the big ones are at best medium sized companies. And all this at a time where football as a collective has seen a massive fall in income and no real idea when things will return to anything approaching normal. Its easy to forget that the club employ several hundred people in various roles so the costs will be real and anything the club can do to mitigate these costs should be done.

This opinion may make me unpopular but I wonder if the same people who are the most adamant about the club paying everything from there own pockets would be happy if when things return to normal the club turn around and say we cannot afford to sign a player or similar as we do not have the funds available.

Our non playing or less essential staff might be months away from any return to work.
Many bigger companies will be using the furlough system so im not sure its such a big deal and at least it offers some security and wages to the background staff.

[spud_gun]

Billionaire club owners relying on a Government backed scheme to pay 80% of their lowest paid staffs wages is sickening.

Look at the obscene profits the club has made more than enough in the last 2 seasons.

'The socialism I believe in, is everybody working for the same goal and everybody having a share in the rewards. That's how I see football, that's how I see life. '

[Chris]

Many bigger companies will be using the furlough system so im not sure its such a big deal

That doesn't make it alright. The more greedy ****s that use it the worse it gets for all of the general public when this is over with tax raises, even worse medical care or whatever. This is all going to have a knock on effect, it's not free money. This should be for businesses that desperately need it, not a football club that could probably afford to burn £50m in the centre circle if we wanted to.

[ChesterDave]

Initially I was disappointed by it but the more I think about it I see less of a problem. Companies making as much profit as we make revenue will be using this scheme. Its cool/tendy/acceptable to bash football and footballers though and is often done by people who will contribute to the salaries of musicians and actors that make football salaries look like skivvy pay

[dom9]

Wouldn't be furlough, that would just be paid leave/special leave and no need to mention 80 or 100%.

But that is what furlough means - leave of absence.

Then there is the government furlough scheme.

I wondered this, though Neil Jones of the Echo has confirmed that LFC are covering 20% and the government scheme is making up the rest.

Thanks. I hadn't seen that.

[Maxiedge]

Disappointing but not at all surprised. Think every club will do it tbh.

[Buzzo]

That doesn't make it alright. The more greedy ****s that use it the worse it gets for all of the general public when this is over with tax raises, even worse medical care or whatever. This is all going to have a knock on effect, it's not free money. This should be for businesses that desperately need it, not a football club that could probably afford to burn £50m in the centre circle if we wanted to.

I made this point about that fat prick Philip Green and didnt get much support yesterday. This is more of the same.

[baitman]

I made this point about that fat prick Philip Green and didnt get much support yesterday. This is more of the same.

That **** has form, closing down companies and burning all the employees, transferring wealth to his wife etc. He cannot be allowed to use government (our???) money to ease his own champagne lifestyle.

[dom9]

I'm not sure what my opinion on this is, without having greater insight into the finances.

Quite often companies run into trouble because of cash flow. So more money going out than coming in.

So in the case of a football club, many of their regular costs remain in place, including paying staff. But there is less money coming in as there are no games being plaid. Ok, so that income is mitigated by tickets having been sold in advance, including season tickets. But there's less money being spent at the ground on food and drink. Less merchandise being sold generally.

As I understand it, the TV money instalments are continuing for now, but they may be paused soon.

That said, the transfer kitty is there. Should it be ring-fenced? I don't think so.

And cash flow will certainly be a bigger issue for smaller clubs down the pyramid who are already on a knife edge.

So the solution? Players subsidise the other staff seems like the best way to do it.

But what do I know.

[Fivex]

PR disaster but only because it's low hanging fruit for the rabid mob.

I don't think i see any issue with this - money is literally being created out of thin air to keep the economy from imploding. I think most businesses will do this when push comes to shove, other profitable sports teams included.

[Buzzo]

PR disaster but only because it's low hanging fruit for the rabid mob.

I don't think i see any issue with this - money is literally being created out of thin air to keep the economy from imploding. I think most businesses will do this when push comes to shove, other profitable sports teams included.

My opinion might change of money is created for me.

[Fivex]

People are being deflected away from the real issues at play here - firstly the government making an absolute hamfist of things during the first few weeks right before it becoming a pandemic, compounding the last 10 years of the austerity sham, and I agree that yes people should be getting money directly from the government but **** like this is being positioned as a shield imo to deflect attention. PL clubs aren't the enemy here.

[Kenneth]

That doesn't make it alright. The more greedy ****s that use it the worse it gets for all of the general public when this is over with tax raises, even worse medical care or whatever. This is all going to have a knock on effect, it's not free money. This should be for businesses that desperately need it, not a football club that could probably afford to burn £50m in the centre circle if we wanted to.

That is how the government should have set it up, but they didn't unfortunately.

Anyone who is a director of a company with shareholders has no option but to take up the scheme if they have unutilised employees. They have a legal obligation to act in the interests of shareholders. In our case, the PR cost may outweigh the financial cost but probably wouldn't. Technicality, but it's the owners that maybe should be saying no, not those managing the club.

[baitman]

People are being deflected away from the real issues at play here - firstly the government making an absolute hamfist of things during the first few weeks right before it becoming a pandemic, compounding the last 10 years of the austerity sham, and I agree that yes people should be getting money directly from the government but **** like this is being positioned as a shield imo to deflect attention. PL clubs aren't the enemy here.

Cutting things to the bone, then sudden realisation that we actually need some nhs intervention and there is no staff or equipment.