Hibs star lifts lid on sizeable wage deferral - but says club handled it well

Lewis Stevenson in action for Hibernian during the William Hill Scottish Cup 4th round replay between Hibernian and Dundee United, at Easter Road in January. | Other 3rd Party

Like most footballers, Lewis Stevenson, the long-serving Hibs full-back, has had to take a financial hit due to the coronavirus shutdown.

While Capital rivals Hearts have cut their players’ wages by between 10 and 30 per cent, the Easter Road side have instead opted to defer salaries, with Stevenson revealing he is currently taking a 50 per cent drop.

However, he has nothing but praise for how his employers have handled the situation.

“All the players have been happy with how Hibs have dealt with the whole situation,” he told the Evening News.

“We knew we’d have to take a hit, and they’ve kept in good contact as well as keeping us busy.

“It’s 50 per cent just now and hopefully we’ll get some of that money back at a later date when the new season starts.

“We had a big conference call and it was handled really well. Everyone was willing to take a hit in some shape or form.

“I think that’s the best scenario for everyone. It keeps the club being able to run for a while, and all in all we’re not losing too much.

“We’ll take the hit for a while, and batten down the hatches.

“There’s other clubs out there that I don’t think have handled it as well, so I can’t complain at all about the way Hibs handled it.

“There’s mortgage holidays you can get, so it’s not been too bad. We’re just in the same boat as everyone else, so we can’t complain too much.

“A lot of people are taking a hit, and as long as everyone in your family is safe and healthy, that’s the main thing. You can worry about money at a later date.”