Steven Gerrard and Rangers players take wage deferrals as staff are furloughed

Manager to defer 50% of salary for three months

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard is deferring part of his salary for three months.

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard and his first-team squad along with the club’s executive directors have volunteered to take a salary deferral for the next three months.

The wage deferral is reported to be as high as 50 per cent as the club bids to come to terms with the lack of income due to the shutdown of football caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Non-football staff at the Ibrox club are to be put in furlough, with Rangers saying they will top up the Government’s job retention scheme payments to ensure they receive the equivalent of their full salary.

A statement released by the club said: “Rangers can confirm that first team players, manager, coaches and executive directors have volunteered to take a salary deferral for the next three months. Senior players and staff were keen to ensure that no Rangers employee suffered financial hardship during this crisis.

“All parties volunteered and wholeheartedly agreed to defer wages to ensure that fellow colleagues could continue to be paid their salaries in full.

“We are proud of the leadership and responsibility taken by senior members of staff, and acknowledge the positive impact that this will have on everyone at Rangers. We firmly believe in the ‘one club’ concept and are united in our collective goal of making Rangers the very best in every facet of football life. We are resolved that the integrity of the club is maintained as we continue our focus on ensuring the financial stability of the business.”

The statement added: “Due to the extraordinary challenges from the ongoing crisis, Rangers intends to implement the Coronavirus job retention scheme for a number of employees. Rangers will ensure that everyone furloughed under this government scheme will receive 100 per cent salary through ‘top up’ assistance from the club with all other conditions and benefits remaining unchanged.

“Finally, we wish all our supporters and their families good health during this time. We are especially thankful for the tireless work of NHS staff and other key workers who are selflessly working to keep us all safe and well. Please continue to follow government guidelines at this time.

Rangers captain, James Tavernier said: “I want to place on record our appreciation to every single member of staff for their determination and resolve during these unprecedented events. I’m very proud of the reaction of everyone at Rangers to the challenge we face throughout the UK and beyond.

“As a team, we were adamant that we work together to do all we can to secure the future of the football club. We are also acutely aware of the livelihoods and wellbeing of our staff.

“In reality, it was an easy decision for players and senior staff. Now is the time to work with unity of purpose, as the Rangers family, to ensure that everyone works together to maintain our institution. Today has made me proud to be Rangers captain.”