Good Morning. It's Wednesday 25th March, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road Leeds held talks with Ibrahimovic prior to January transfer window Andrea Radrizzani sensationally revealed that the club held talks with Zlatan Ibrahimovic prior to the January transfer window. The 38yo former Swedish International decided instead to sign a six month deal to take him back to the San Siro. Although the wrong side of 30, the veteran striker continues to score goals wherever he goes. Eight games in to his second spell at AC Milan, the 6ft 5 hitman has already netted 3 times. Ibrahimovic did not discount joining the Whites once his short term contract expires. The main hurdle is whether Bielsa would EVER be prepared to drop Bamford, and give anyone else a chance? please log in to view this image Leeds players salaries to be capped at £6000 per week Leeds Utd Managing Director Angus Kinnear and Director of football Victor Orta met with players (conference calls) to discuss the financial impact the coronavirus has had on the club. The wages bill at Elland Road has more than doubled over the last two years to a staggering 40m, more than half a dozen Premier league clubs. Leeds have the highest gate receipts in the Championship, and with only minimal income coming in and no parachute payments like some of their rivals, the club is looking to minimise their expenditure. The hierarchy have asked players and staff whether they'd consider having the majority of their wages deferred until the disruption of the coronavirus passes? The proposal believed to be put forward would mean that all players (and staff) would have their salaries capped at a maximum of £6000 per week. Early reports suggest the players are embracing the idea. Leeds highest earners are as follows. A number of players including Hernandez, Cooper, Dallas, Klich and Ayling join Forshaw earning circa £20,000 a week. please log in to view this image Coronavirus could prove to be an economic disaster for the Whites - Radrizzani Andrea Radrizzani has been speaking to the Italian press on how the coronavirus is effecting the Whites.Y He also admits the crisis could prove to be an economic "disaster" for the Championship leaders. "A disaster, unfortunately" "To be competitive, a club like ours loses £8m to £10m every year and nobody wants to keep a business that loses money every year. "This situation aggravates the budget. Not having five home games, we will lose about £2.5m, which are the only source of revenues since such figures do not come from TV rights. "This epidemic aggravates this situation, which is already normally complicated." please log in to view this image
Good Morning to Matt and co from my bunker in Bardsey where I have been on lock down for a week nowbut at least I am free from this awful disease which I believe to be man made by the Chinese in their strife for world domination.Moe tells me that 1,2m have died in China aloneandnot the reported figure Also thos virus has shown what greedy people we are emptying shelfs at supermarkets give everyone a chance On the playing front I think Bielsa will arrange several behind close doors matches to get used to playing in such circumstances
Morning All, All televised sport banned in Australia now, there may be some exceptions but I haven't found any. I hope this crisis brings the football authorities to their senses and it results in a more rational distribution of TV revenue and hopefully more realistic wages. I'm always looking for a silver lining.
Morning all. Feel so sorry for those professional footballers having to survive on 6k a week. Maybe they’ll be able to claim a top up from the government if they can’t afford food
Never mind that's a relief for them and fortnum& Mason do lovely hampers I believe. What a load of absolute krap the poor lambs must have been terrified. How much are the club raking in on season ticket sales and gold members. Honestly the sooner skint rads effs off the better.
Players accept that matches will have to be held behind closed doors when the football season resumes, says Professional Footballers' Association deputy chief executive Bobby Barnes. Football in England is suspended until at least 30 April because of the coronavirus pandemic, although the Football Association, Premier League and EFL want the season to be finished. "In an ideal world we'd be playing in front of crowds but I think it's more a case of there being no alternative," Barnes told The Athletic. "Players are realistic. We're not in an ideal world and the players I've spoken to accept that's what it will have to be. "I've been speaking to players on a daily basis and the conversations were based around not wanting to play behind closed doors if at all possible. "Football is about fans. But the reality for the vast majority of the players, particularly at the highest level, is their income is funded by television money and there are contracts that have to be adhered to. "In order for us [the PFA] to be able to protect those players in terms of securing their salaries, if that's the only offer we have on the table to complete the season, then that is what it will be." Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk, whose side are 25 points clear at the top of the Premier League, said he would be "gutted" for the club's fans if they were absent when the Premier League title was secured. But Barnes believes players are coming round to the idea of playing matches in empty stadiums. "If we're going to get the season finished in a timely fashion so we can even consider starting next season, we've got to be open to all options," added Barnes.
People making big money have big fixed expenses, so while we can have critical views on what they are paid, not so easy for many of them to take a big wage cut. At least that’s what Shako has told me his situation is!
Isn't it the case that the government will pay 80% of all salaries, up to a max of £2500? That would cover all of the wage bill for those outside of the 1st team squad. Haven't heard this mentioned in footballing circles yet. Have I mis-heard?
There are several things to take into account here. The only reason games would be played behind closed doors is that covid19 is still around. If that's the case, no football could be played (closed doors or not). Reason being, as per UEFA rules, minimum requirement for any game (in the interest of the health and safety of players and officials) 1) Ambulance with 2 paramedics 2) registered doctor 3) 2 fully trained stretcher bearers.
Any game? Really? I thought the likes of pub teams were exempt. Like Nilwall. Seriously, though, these rules can be eased in special circumstances, I'm sure. Clubs generally have their own medical staff anyway, which will include stretcher bearers. (Incidentally, I trained as a stretcher bearer with St. John's many years ago. Took about 15 minutes. There ain't a lot to it, tbh). And any deviation from the norm would be on instruction from the doctor on the scene - e.g. what braces, etc. to apply, & when. Ambulance could be a bush fix job put together by the club - minibus plus medical essentials like oxygen, restraints, drugs, for example.
That makes sense. Was yet another piece of info I heard on the news when doing something else. Would still be a useful aid to the club, though.
Just been having a quiet think while in the garden. Got me wondering after all this is over will football be even recognizable. What clubs will remain /survive this season. What sort of fire sales of players will there be. What value will players have. What will new contracts look like. What will new contracts with sky look like. Will ground capacities be impacted. Clubs with rich owners like scum or city might find their owners are no longer rich and lose the megabucks that go with having those owners. Better stop now, I’m giving myself a headache with all this thinking
I believe the point was when it is deemed safe to begin playing again it will begin with closed doors games before games with fans are played.
I saw Guardiola donated 1m Euros to fighting the disease in Spain yesterday, don’t know if it was mentioned.