BY ROSS HEPPENSTALL
Super League executive chairman Robert Elstone believes clubs will furlough their employees in a bid to save them from financial ruin as he expressed his confidence that all twelve top-flight top teams will survive the current crisis.
The 2020 season has been suspended at all levels indefinitely and many teams in the three professional leagues – Super League, Championship and League One – face a fight for survival.
Elstone said that furloughing – where staff are put on unpaid on leave and the state pays their wages – had been discussed by clubs and was likely to be utilised.
A new Government scheme means workers can receive 80% of their salary, up to £2,500 a month, as a result of the action.
Elstone said: “I think every club is looking very closely at that and what that allows clubs to do to get through this situation.
“We’ve spent time looking at our staff base and furloughing is an option for a large number of our employees.
“We’ve got to respect the fact we have to work that through, communicate with our staff and do it professionally and sympathetically.
“I think that principle works across all clubs. It’s an opportunity for clubs in Super League to protect themselves.
“I still think the rule around furloughing is sketchy. It’s a very welcome initiative, we had a call on best practice on what furloughing may look like.
“We spoke to professional advisors to find out what it means, the rules, how it is supplied. Clubs are just working through the machination of it.”
The Rugby Football League’s top boss, Ralph Rimmer, is also working with the Goverment to secure funding that would assist clubs throughout the current crisis.
Many clubs are dependent on gate receipts and matchday income to survive and Elstone added: “The current situation is that a solid request for funding has been submitted.
“In the intervening period there have been things like furloughing and additional benefits put on the table by Government and we need to reflect that in a revised submission.
“Super League are actively involved in what that number was, but I spoke to Ralph late last night in terms of revising and updating that.
“We’re very keen to be involved to ensure what we put in front of Government is as good as it can be.”
The former Everton FC supremo also expressed his confidence that all twelve Super League clubs would survive the pandemic and remain in existence when the season resumes.
Elstone added: “Am I confident? Yes. Our big priority is economic survival for us and the clubs and everything we’re doing is about that.”
