Some Sunderland fans have been discussing the latest update about the club putting the first team on furloughed leave.
Keith Downie, who is the North East correspondent on Sky Sports, recently tweeted out the news that Sunderland’s first-team squad had been furloughed. He revealed that while the players are now in furlough, the club has committed to topping up salaries so they don’t need to take a pay-cut.
He also went on to say that manager Phil Parkinson is working from home and has not been furloughed.
This update left many Sunderland fans talking. They had a variety of things to say about it.
We are skint.
— Joshua?? (@KINGMAGUIRE1) April 7, 2020
Are Sunderland right to furlough the first-team?
Yes, absolutely
No, I'm fuming
No option really given the lack of income coming in. Think you will find most championship and below teams taking this option or a number of clubs would be close to going bust.
— Ryan Shields (@ryans1610) April 7, 2020
The club’s official Twitter account also relayed the same information earlier in the day and many Sunderland fans reacted to that, too.
Safeguarding the future of the club and the jobs of the people who work within it. Sensible decision.
— Wayne Holden (@w24holden) April 7, 2020
I really don’t get people being annoyed at this. We’re not Liverpool. We’re in League 1 and endless pot of money we can dip into. Correct decision imo.
— Chris Laws (@chrisdlaws) April 7, 2020
Predictable SD. Not a penny to his name. Should not have bought this club.
— Paul (@paulthomase) April 7, 2020
Where the £10mill from the American investors gone? #SAFC
— Matthew (@MJacko1989) April 7, 2020
Embarrassing
— Jonny (@Jonny_Langley86) April 7, 2020
So are we essentially getting the Government to pay £2,500 towards each players wage for a month? Are we really that broke, I thought we apparently had great finances? Must not be the case
— Ollie (@killermill3r) April 7, 2020
This update comes after Premier League leaders Liverpool had initially decided to furlough non-playing staff, but they later reversed their decision. Tottenham have also furloughed their staff. Elsewhere, clubs like Juventus and Barcelona have had their players take wage cuts already.
What do we think?
Before Sunderland, one should look at how clubs who played in the Champions League this season have had to take wage-cuts. This suggests that if they have to take them, a League One club like Sunderland will almost certainly face financial difficulties of their own due to the pandemic. This also proves that let alone Sunderland, no one is safe from potential financial suffering. It won’t be a surprise to see many clubs take wage-cuts and protective measures in the near future.