Dewsbury Rams and Batley Bulldogs set to place players on furlough leave

DEWSBURY Rams and Batley Bulldogs are both set to place their players on furlough leave due to the coronavirus pandemic.
ACTION: Batley Bulldogs v Sheffield Eagles. Picture: Paul Butterfield.ACTION: Batley Bulldogs v Sheffield Eagles. Picture: Paul Butterfield.
ACTION: Batley Bulldogs v Sheffield Eagles. Picture: Paul Butterfield.

All forms of rugby league have been suspended due to the outbreak of the disease and squads are unable to train together due measures introduced by the government which limit social gatherings.

Emergency policy introduced last week allows employers to place staff on leave with 80 per cent of monthly pay, up to £2,500, paid for by the government.

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The suspension of sport, combined with the new social measures, have meant that Dewsbury have seen their income streams stopped.

FURLOUGH: Dewsbury Rams head coach Lee Greenwood. Picture: Allan McKenzie\Swpix.com.FURLOUGH: Dewsbury Rams head coach Lee Greenwood. Picture: Allan McKenzie\Swpix.com.
FURLOUGH: Dewsbury Rams head coach Lee Greenwood. Picture: Allan McKenzie\Swpix.com.

"We are looking to do it, there is no way the club can survive paying 100 per cent of everyone's wages with zero income," said head coach Lee Greenwood as the Rams prepare to put players on furlough leave.

"We are a self-sustainable club but all of our income is gone.

"We hire the function room, other facilities and hold a car boot sale. They are weekly activities that take place to keep our club surviving and it is all gone.

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"So the club are looking at the furlough payments in the meantime. Nobody knows how long that is going to be for but as soon as the club can open back up again it will do."

Other Championship clubs, such as Halifax and Featherstone Rovers, have already announced their decision to put players and staff on leave.

And Batley chief Craig Lingard hopes the government policy will ease the strain on the Mount Pleasant club, who had previously committed to fulfilling players' contracts.

"I think it will help the players a little bit more as well," said Lingard.

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"We met before the termination of playing and the club said they were going to honour the contracts before the announcement of the 80 per cent payments from the government.

"Now that is the case, the club will be looking to follow suit of what other clubs have done. Security wise for the players and financially for the club it is probably the best option.

"We are trying our best to generate some income but it is not enough to pay the players and the staff. It is difficult to generate that income."