Stuart Dallas hails Leeds United unity after easy decision over wages

STUART DALLAS says Leeds United's players were left with an easy decision to defer their wages given the unity at the Elland Road football club.
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United's players, coaching staff and senior management all took a voluntary wage deferral last Thursday 'for the foreseeable future' to ensure hundreds of non-football staff at Elland Road and Thorp Arch can still be paid.

Amidst the global fight against coronavirus, the steps were also taken to safeguard the business with the EFL campaign currently indefinitely suspended and with UEFA aiming for their European Leagues to resume in August.

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"It's not just us in this scenario," said United's Northern Ireland international Dallas.

EASY DECISION: Says Leeds United's Northern Ireland international Stuart Dallas. Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images.EASY DECISION: Says Leeds United's Northern Ireland international Stuart Dallas. Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images.
EASY DECISION: Says Leeds United's Northern Ireland international Stuart Dallas. Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images.

"It's a world crisis and if it meant the players taking a wage cut to keep other people in their job then that's the first thing that we want to do.

"First and foremost at this club we are at, you know that everyone is reading off the same page and if that meant us having to give up wages then we are more than happy to do that."

Players and clubs have come under fire elsewhere after several teams in the top flight furloughed non-playing staff but failed to look at players' wages during the coronavirus crisis.

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Premier League clubs unanimously agreed to consult with their players concerning a 30 per cent wage deferral to assist with the payment of non-playing staff during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Professional Footballers' Association has warned that Premier League players taking a 30 per cent salary cut would amount to the government losing out on in excess of £200million in tax revenues.

Culture secretary Oliver Dowden expressed his concern about the stand-off between the Premier League and PFA on Saturday night, two days after Health Secretary Matt Hancock weighed into the debate during the government's daily briefing, telling Premier League players they should "take a pay cut and play their part".

While the PFA insists its members want to make "significant financial contributions", the players' union warned the government the Premier League's suggested 30 per cent cut of an annual remuneration amounts to £500m, of which around 40 per cent would be contributed to tax.

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Furthermore, the PFA says Premier League players want to ensure their contributions support their clubs, the full remuneration of non-playing staff, the EFL and non-league clubs, as well as the NHS.

The Premier League pledged an advance of £125m to the EFL and National League as well as a £20m donation to the NHS and other community causes on Friday, but its players says neither of the payments are enough.

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