Nigerian international, Alex Iwobi and his team-mates at English Premier League club-side, Everton are all set to have a 50 per cent pay-cut.
Everton’s squad have voluntarily taken pay deferrals up to 50 per cent for the next three months in a step to protect the club’s long-term finances.
In an email to supporters sent out on Tuesday night, Denise Barrett-Baxendale, Everton’s chief executive, explained the process behind the decision and revealed that talks with the players have been on-going since the coronavirus pandemic shut football down temporarily.
Carlo Ancelotti, Everton’s manager, and the rest of his staff immediately agreed to take 30 per cent reductions in their salaries; as did other leading figures within the club such as Marcel Brands, the director of football, and Barret-Baxendale.
Long-serving players such as club captain Seamus Coleman and Leighton Baines, among others, have been working with officials to see what the squad could do to combat the effects of losing so much revenue for such a prolonged amount of time.
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It is a gesture that is estimated, from the playing staff alone, will save Everton up to £10million.
Barrett-Baxendale wrote: ‘The board of directors, together with the manager and the nine members of his backroom staff. They volunteered to reductions and deferrals of up to 30 per cent. That willingness was there to protect the club, other staff, our fans and the wider community.’
Barret-Baxendale added: ‘The first team squad have now voluntarily agreed to deferrals of up to 50 per cent for the next three months. Everyone who has taken these reductions and deferrals have done so in the spirit of the club and I would like to express my thanks to them for demonstrating such integrity.’
Everton have proactive during the pandemic in supporting the vulnerable members of the support base and set up the Blue
Family appeal, which has seen Ancelotti and all of his players ringing individuals for long telephone conversations.
The initiative has raised £400,000 in donations so far and now major shareholder Farhad Moshiri and chairman Bill Kenwright – who has also taken time to ring fans – have pledged to match that figure, so the total is in the region of £800,000.
