Coronavirus outbreak set to cost Leeds Rhinos £1.5m in lost income

Hetherington admitted Rhinos’ income streams have “dried up” and the club is now operating on what it earned over the first part of the season. Rhinos played four home games before Betfred Super League was suspended last month.

Four scheduled fixtures, including a home Coral Challenge Cup tie against Hull KR this weekend, have been called off because of the pandemic and there is little chance of the sport resuming until at least the end of next month.

Cuts are now being considered and Hetherington has urged past and present fans to chip in with ideas to help see the club through an “unprecedented” situation.

The Covid-19 pandemic has struck less than a year after the completion of Emerald Headingley’s near-£50m redevelopment.

Rhinos are still paying for those facilities which, with the public being urged to stay at home, are now generating no income.

Outlining the scale of the crisis surrounding the club, Hetherington said: “Normally in sport the club with the biggest, most diverse business, best facilities and most staff generally has an advantage, but, for Leeds Rhinos, we now find ourselves as probably the club with the biggest challenge.

“All our income streams have been developed over many years – conference and banqueting, corporate events, business seminars, catering, our hotel, retail operation, lottery, cafe bar.

“All those incomes have run dry. We anticipate probably a £1.5 million hit over the next three months from budgeted income that now won’t arrive, but we still have significant commitments, not least our 150 players and staff.”

The Rhinos chief stressed: “We’ve made a commitment to them to maintain their employment, certainly for the next three months. All the financial reserves we’ve built up over many years as a profitable organisation have been invested in our new facilities, so now we’re living off the cash that has been generated so far this season from our sponsors, our corporate members and our season ticket holders.

“Their continued support and backing is absolutely crucial, but we actually need more.

“We have got to be resourceful and generate new income streams.

“In times of crisis we have to be creative and we want all our fans to back everything we do.

“We are wanting to announce some initiatives in the very near future and we also want people to come up with their own ideas as well.

“We are also appealing to former fans and sponsors to re-engage with us.

“The team and staff have provided some great memories over the past 25 years and this is now their time of need.”

Rhinos’ players - along with other employees - are now on furlough, as part of a government scheme which guarantees 80 per cent of their wages up to £2,500 per month.

Under the furlough, players will still be able to keep fit from home, but there will be no structured training.

Hetherington said some members of staff have continued to make welfare calls to elderly and vulnerable fans on a voluntary basis, despite being placed on leave.

“One of the things we are striving to do is keep everyone in employment, but everybody will be sharing some of the pain,” Hetherington added.

“We will know the extent of the salary cuts we will have to make to players and staff in the next two weeks and there’s no doubt the next four weeks are absolutely crucial.

“Leeds Rhinos has faced many challenges over the years. This is our biggest challenge, but it’s one we’re determined to overcome.”