AFP, Glasgow :
Hearts have asked their players and staff to accept their pay being cut by half in order to stave off troubles brought on by the Coronavirus pandemic, the Scottish Premiership club said Wednesday.
Owner Ann Budge has taken the drastic cost-cutting measure amid financial fears that football will be out of action for months due to the pandemic.
Currently sitting bottom of the Premiership, Hearts are the first British top-flight club to decide on wage cuts in a bid to stay afloat.
“We have asked all full-time employees, managers, coaches, players and player back-room staff, with effect from the beginning of April, to accept a 50% cut in their monthly salary,” Budge told Hearts’ website.
“Staff and players alike, who feel unable or unwilling to accept this revision to their contracts, will, of course, be offered the option of contract termination.”
Budge stated earlier this week her club would lose o1 million ($1.16 million) in income from postponed games over the coming weeks.
Four remaining home league games, plus a Scottish Cup semi-final against Hibernian at Hampden Park, would have earned the Edinburgh side a seven-figure sum.
