Fraser Wishart says government’s wage support could be ‘game changer’ for Scottish football

But Hibs chief Leeann Dempster fears it will take too long for money to reach our clubs
Fraser Wishart expects footballers to be covered by the government's plan to pay 80 per cent of the wages of employees affected by the coronavirus crisis. Picture: Gary Hutchison/SNSFraser Wishart expects footballers to be covered by the government's plan to pay 80 per cent of the wages of employees affected by the coronavirus crisis. Picture: Gary Hutchison/SNS
Fraser Wishart expects footballers to be covered by the government's plan to pay 80 per cent of the wages of employees affected by the coronavirus crisis. Picture: Gary Hutchison/SNS

The government’s offer to pay 80 per cent of the wages of employees unable to work due to the coronavirus pandemic could be a “game changer” for Scottish football, according to Fraser Wishart, the head of the players’ union.

Wishart, chief executive of PFA Scotland, will seek more detail about the proposal amid concerns about how long it could take for the government’s measures to reach our game.

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Football has been suspended until at least 30 April because of the spread of the virus and the lay-off is having an impact already, with Hearts announcing they had asked all their employees to take a 50 per cent wage cut. Other clubs are likely to follow suit, it is feared.

In response to the coronavirus crisis, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced on Friday that employers would be able to apply to HM Revenue and Customs to cover 80 per cent of the wages of staff they keep on, up to £2,500 a month.

Wishart, pictured, hopes his members can benefit from the scheme.

“If they are talking about employers, which clubs are, and employees, which players are, and the clubs want to keep them and the players are unable to work, it seems to me they do meet the criteria,” Wishart said on Radio Scotland’s Sportsound programme.

“We will speak to our experts in the coming weeks and see what happens. It’s great clubs are looking at it and it’s great we have another avenue to perhaps help us through this awful situation.”

Hibernian chief executive Leeann Dempster also welcomed the government’s offer of wage subsidies but she did voice some reservations.

“It’s welcome for everyone – football included,” she said. “Even with decent reserves in the bank, no money coming in only does one thing and that’s never good.

“I feel for everyone at the moment. We, all of us, needed some good news and this is certainly good news.

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“The issue I have is that declarations from London at the moment are taking their time to filter through because the Scottish Government needs a process.

“We are all just assuming rates relief is there as well as some of the other measures.

“But until we get that in totality from Edinburgh, I can’t bank on it. I’ve made this known in the strongest terms and the Scottish Professional Football League is now taking action.”

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