Hull squad could defer wages

Talks to begin over cutting summer pay to ease financial burden

By Danny Wright   Last updated: 12th May 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Hull squad could defer wages

Hull: Wage cut

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Hull City players are prepared to help the cash-strapped club by deferring their wages over the summer, according to The Professional Footballers' Association (PFA).

Adam Pearson, the club's head of football operations, has put a proposal to the squad asking them to forgo a portion of their salary - believed to be 30% - which would be repaid once the financial situation at the KC Stadium is more stable.

Players who also saw their wages slashed following relegation from the Premier League have been asked to bring those reductions forward from the end of June.

The Tigers have debts of around £35m and are looking to slash their outgoings on a wage bill that currently stands at £38.9m, although the club hope that figure will be reduced to £15m in time for the start of the Championship campaign.

Support

PFA deputy chief executive John Bramhall said: "It is out there that the club have made that request and that process is ongoing as we speak.

"The players are broadly in favour of looking to help and support the club moving forward. Within the principle of that request, the players are looking to see if they can work with the club on that basis."

Several of the City squad are out of contract following the end of their two-year stay in the top flight and the departure of the likes of George Boateng, on-loan Villarreal striker Jozy Altidore and Bernard Mendy will see outgoings immediately reduced.

Chairman Russell Bartlett says the wage bill will automatically fall to £21m on 30th June when the expiration of deals and wage cuts come into place.

Bartlett has previously stated his intention to trade through the turbulence and avoid administration, which would incur a 10-point penalty deduction at the start of the new campaign under Football League rules.

Justifiable case

Bramhall added that the PFA would open talks with the squad about a drop in their wages once the club's accounts have been assessed, revealing the union's willingness to help ease the burden on the East Yorkshire outfit.

He added: "We've spoken to all the players, we're now fully aware of the situation with regards to contracts etc, it's just the financial details from the club that we're waiting for.

"In many situations in the past where clubs have been in similar financial positions, the players have been prepared to work with the club and move forward and if it's a justifiable case, then the PFA would support them in that.

"We're dealing with Adam and we're in regular contact with him and moving forward on that basis.

"When we look at the club's finances we'll be in a better position to assess (timescale), that's going to form part of the discussions.

"As soon as we get the information, we'll be in contact with the players, so that's going to be happening over the next few days."