Are Our Players Being Furloughed?

There have been reports over the last couple of days, which appears to have come from the Mail Online that Rotherham United players have received letters from the club asking them to go on furlough which is a Government scheme which help companies top up wages up to a maximum of £2,500 per month.

The article says that the players were ‘stunned’ to be asked to do this but should they have been?

Back at the beginning of April Rotherham Manager Paul Warne had told local newspaper the Rotherham Advertiser that this could be on the cards saying that a number of non-playing staff were set to be furloughed although he also said that he would prefer ‘wage deferrals’ for his squad to a furlough.

If this is true – and I stress ‘If’ – then the Millers won’t be the only club to be asking players to do this with neighbours Sheffield Wednesday, who were relegated along with Rotherham, already said to have done the same.

But, it will be worrying for players, staff and fans. I don’t know how much League One players are on a month but I imagine it’s a damn sight more that £2.500 a month. And for us fans we will be thinking about the transfer window with the question ‘who wants to come to a club who isn’t paying full wages’ on their lips.

This news came out Saturday with the club not saying anything as yet – maybe it’s rubbish and they don’t feel it deserves a reply. Rotherham United are a well run club and that has been made clear to us again after the end of the season. We are never going to get players in on big wages or with big names, our Chairman is not going to let the club go into the red – we’ve been there before and had fears that the club would fold and I can’t see that happening again under the current owners.

Me. I’m waiting until we get confirmation on this story to think too hard about it.