Players in contract talks as Whitburn struggle to survive

WHITBURN JUNIORS have held talks with their players about renegotiating their contracts as the East Region Super League side struggles to stay afloat after losing valuable income due to the recent bad weather.

The SJFA has just awarded 1,000 to clubs to help them out but Whitburn secretary Raymond Wallace says the situation is serious and reckons it's going to get a lot worse for some clubs due to an Inland Revenue proposal.

"We have had no gate income, no pie money income and no raffle income but still we have to pay the players' wages for training every week," he said.

"The current financial situation the whole country is in is affecting us hugely.

"It's common knowledge that we spoke to the players regarding the situation and they have been terrific in their support.

"We have a social club and they are helping as much as they can but a lot of social clubs are folding. The players met the committee on Tuesday night to discuss the situation and possibly renegotiate their contracts.

"To make matters worse, the SJFA informed us the Inland Revenue are looking into the situation regarding having to pay a minimum wage to players from the moment they leave their home to the time they return for training and games.

"This could very well see the end of a lot of clubs who couldn't afford to pay that level of money.

"People talk of players' greed but our players have been fantastic and they know it's not just Whitburn."