Tottenham announced earlier this week that all non-playing staff would have their wages cut by 20% and placed on furlough, meaning they will now receive just 80% of their wages, with the government now subsidising the costs of their salaries.
It is one way to keep the club sustainable in this difficult period and it is a method that has also been used by fellow Premier League club Newcastle.
However, there is an ethical question that could be raised about such an action. After all, Championship Leeds have agreed with the players and management to defer their wages for a few months in order to allow non-playing staff to continue picking up their standard wage packet.
When one considers our high earners, many of who likely earn the same amount in a week as an average staff member does in a year, it is a little shocking that the players haven’t stepped up.
Could Tanganga go on to be a Tottenham great?
Yes
No
Our former manager Harry Redknapp certainly believes so, and he didn’t hold back when criticising those running the club and the action they have taken.
Redknapp told the Sun:
“I can’t believe it. Surely players should be taking a cut. This isn’t for big clubs like Tottenham.
“Tottenham are owned by Joe Lewis, one of the richest men in the world, and his club are cutting the wages of all their non-football staff by 20 per cent. I can’t believe it.”
The former manager raises a very good point, particularly when Daniel Levy is taken into account, as the chairman earned £7m last year – £3m of which was in bonuses due to the completion of the Tottenham Stadium.
There is little doubt that he has performed well after leading us tot he Champions League final, but the disparity between him and most other staff is vast, and shows how things could be a lot different.
If the players instead took a small cut they likely wouldn’t be affected much, yet could do a great deal to help those at the club who are in greater need, not to mention the wider community, with Haringey ranked in the lowest four London boroughs for poverty rate.