Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Leeds United amongst Euro clubs joining Hearts in wage cuts

A number of clubs around Europe are beginning to put in place wage reductions

Hearts became one of the first teams in world football to ask staff to take a wage reduction.

Last week, owner Ann Budge approached players, management and other staff members requesting they take a 50 per cent salary reduction until August.

In a statement published last Wednesday she said: “This reduction in income is not sustainable without taking immediate action to cut staff costs and overheads. As such, I need to act swiftly and take steps now to ensure that we, as a Club, can weather this storm while trying to ensure we are ready to resume operations as and when we move into calmer waters and football restarts.”

Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich players have taken a wage cut. Picture: Getty

Since then, big English clubs and some of Europe’s elite have also made the move to cut players’ salaries.

These clubs include Leeds United, Bayern Munich and Barcelona.

Budge came in for criticism due to the number of players the club had signed in recent seasons, while also asking non-playing staff to take a wage cut.

The club are still in talks with the players and PFA Scotland as to whether the proposal will amount to a wage deferral or not.

Ann Budge has faced criticism for asking staff to take a 50 percent wage cut. Picture: SNS

Already, captain Steven Naismith and assistant coach Jorg Sievers have accepted the cut, Clevid Dikamona has had his contract terminated and manager Daniel Stendel has told Budge to use his wage to pay others at the club.

On Tuesday, Dumbarton became the first SPFL club to follow Hearts’ lead, announcing they were deferring 50 per cent of wages until the league returns to normality.

Euro elite not immune

Moves have been made in England with Birmingham City the first team in the English Championship asking players earning more than £6,000-a-week to defer half of their wages.

Many have agreed to the proposal, deferring wages for 16 weeks from April.

Leeds United are expected to follow suit, according to The Athletic, and possibly Brentford.

The Championship leaders are likely to cap wages at £6,000-a-week and the players are understood to be on the verge of agreeing.

Europe’s biggest clubs have not been immune to the difficulties presented by the coronavirus pandemic.

Barcelona, report The Guardian, are weighing up cutting players’ wages by up to 70 per cent. It would be a move which would include number of teams which fall under the banner of Barcelona, including the women’s side, B team, U19s, as well as the basketball team.

Christian Seifert, the German league’s CEO, warned that half of the clubs in the country’s top two tiers are under ‘existential threat’.

Borussia Monchengladbach became the first side in Germany to confirm players will forgo part of their wages. It is a move which has been followed by Borussia Dortmund as they look to ease the financial burden on the club.

German giants Bayern Munich have also been affected. Players and directors have agreed to a 20 percent pay cut.

In France, Lyon announced the club’s sporting staff have been put on partial unemployment which will see 70 percent of the employees' gross salary covered by the state.