windmillhillred

14 minutes ago, hodge said:

Perhaps something to consider, under current FFP rules owners can only put in so much money per season, perhaps Lansdown can't pay staff/player wages if he wanted too because it would exceed the amount he can help cover losses for the club given we push the boundaries anyway.

Yep this is a good point. I’m not so worried about the players, who will be the bulk of the wage bill - but the staff, especially those on low or moderate pay - and I can’t believe there isn’t a way to help them more.

29 minutes ago, Hunsupport said:

I have to say it's quite interesting for me reading Your thoughts about the finance part during this pandemic.

For one reason is I just don't get it why everyone is still so upset with the owner, players after they announced this deferral (same opinion for other clubs as well). I guess SL has most of his fortune in estates, shares, etc. not actually in cash in a bank: he has to navigate and think about the future as well.

An owner doesn't have to spend all his money on his club (in any sports) he just have to make sure the club can and will prosper in the future as well, after the pandemic. All clubs will take firther hits as time goes by: imagine the future losses if fans can't go to games for let's say another 6 months. What now owners or club leaders can do is prepare for that 6/9/12 months in advance and make sure that those who are now furloughed for 2-3 months can be fully paid when they actually can work at games. If it takes getting money for this period from the government than be it.

And face it: during mankind's history there were always the rich people (or call them priviliged) and the others. Even during communism despite their doctrines. It won't ever happen that even under these circumstances the tea lady will get the same pay then the main assets, the players at any club.

As a closer example: at our firm we're on 50% pay cut for this month and the next one; we're depending on a worldwide known Spanish clothing giant to re-start producing and transporting to Hungary. We literally don't have any work to do since 01/04, shops are closed now, maybe starting again in May. So we are getting paid 50%, sitting at home, maybe checking emails once / day - but I'm getting a lot more money than the truck drivers as I work at the office, my 50% is more than theirs. So now I have to feel guilty about it (to be candid I offered that I can live if I don't get 1 months salary if it helps someone else)? And our owner (he has other businesses as well which are still up and running) also could have just said in March that "guys, this will take more 3 months with no income, my contract for the deliveries can be nullified in 45 days with the clothing company. I don't want to pay a cent from my savings without any income, so You're all fired, goodbye." But he didn't... 

Thanks, really interesting to see this perspective. I take issue with one thing though, the idea that Steve Lansdown has to think about his future. Important to remember how astronomically wealthy he is. His wealth, and you’re right of course that most of it won’t be in cash, is over 50,000 times the average salary in the UK.

 He could foot the wage bill for the club for the rest of his life while still living an incredible lifestyle and having millions to pass onto his family. Of course nobody expects him to do that, and we are all grateful for what he has done for the club. But the reality is that there will be people at the club, like everywhere in society, who are really struggling at the moment. He could prevent that from happening but instead is taking advantage of a scheme paid for by taxpayers (now and for god knows how long into the future) when he has made a conscious decision to become a tax exile. People are right, in my view, to question that.

1 hour ago, And Its Smith said:

Why would it be strange? Lots of companies are doing that 

Cutting the pay of those still working but topping the pay of those furloughed would be strange wouldn’t it?

17 minutes ago, And Its Smith said:

Would be good to wait to get it confirmed before fans pile on though 

This has been confirmed. All non playing staff have had a 20 per cent pay cut. Would be very strange if they were topping up the ones who had been furloughed to their full salaries.

7 minutes ago, Bristol Rob said:

Staff can do alternative work, such as delivering driving, players are still having to follow training and dietary plans given by the club so are technically still working.

Yep that is a good point, but if you do another job while your furloughed don’t you lose some of the furlough payment?  

8 hours ago, eardun said:

I haven’t read anywhere that we are paying them only 80 percent. A lot of companies will be still be paying furloughed staff full pay and claiming 80 percent back from the Govt. Looks like the players and staff who aren’t furloughed are taking pay cuts/deferrals. Overall this gets us through the period of hardly any income without having to make staff redundant.

The club have said that this has happened:  pay cuts for staff; deferrals for the players. I’m not criticising the players, but the reality is that the club has taken the decision to protect the interests of players ahead of staff. And that sticks in the throat a little (I’m not blaming the players by the way).

16 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

I’m disappointed we’ve furloughed some non-playing staff and will use CJRS to pay them 80%.

The whole range of Coronavirus business support packages are ill-conceived, and although the IT Delivery of CJRS has been a success, the number of people falling between gaps is very poor.  The loan scheme is not being taken up quick enough as businesses don’t pass the risk criteria leaving them in limbo / ready to go bust.  Add into this that they allow us to make moral judgement on whether it is right or wrong shows how unsuitable these are as a set of solutions.

I know many of us love SL, but I don’t see how this is any different in principle to Branson.

Absolutely. Perfectly possible to greatly appreciate what SL has done for the club, the city and the wider region while being pretty appalled at this. Using the furlough scheme feels pretty questionable, but the idea that those working in the club shop, or in admin or whatever take a 20 per cent cut while the players will see all their wages is horrendous.

2 minutes ago, havanatopia said:

No need to twist what I said or were you unable to comprehend. One or other.

Like the other chap you have ever so slightly over egged what I said. The fact is there is no antidote but you are not going to die unless you are very weak or very unhealthy in which case of course stay away from a crowd much the same if you have flu which, even with an antidote, killed hundreds of thousands last year and does every year. Get a grip. Hysteria is beyond a joke.

If you are seriously weak or ill. Otherwise get over it and get back to work. ... Exactly like flu. 

But it is much more dangerous than flu. People can take precautions which will protect themselves and stop elderly and ill  people dying.

We've been awful recently. I get it. Brentford was one of the worst performances I have ever seen from a professional sports team. I don't understand what has gone wrong.

And yet... We are still in this. Inexplicably, maybe, but we are still in this. Won tonight with Boro and Millwall both having tough games and things could look very different. It may be unlikely, but it's still on.

People say that the players have checked out. I don't buy that. Something's clearly wrong but I can't  accept that they don't fancy being promoted. 

But we've got a role to play tonight. We need an atmosphere that shows the players that we're still up for this, that we haven't written this season off and that we're still with them. Who knows when the chance (even though it's an outside one) will come again.

3 minutes ago, BlueDredd said:

This superior style of football you have, and seem to brag about looks to be serving you well.

See you've got 4g. Must be in England for the day?