Hibs set to announce wage deferrals and furlough plans - with high-ranking officials to absorb financial hit

Plan still in place not to sign players until all wages are back to normal after crisis

Hibs and their staff are close to agreeing wage deferrals.

Hibs are expected to announce an agreement between the club and players that will see a percentage of their wages deferred until football kicks off once again.

The Leith club and players’ representatives have been hammering out details of a deal that will help see them through unprecedented times and safeguard the livelihoods of all club employees.

A decision to place the majority of the club’s non-football staff on furlough is imminent, with the Easter Road outfit the latest to join the Job Retention Scheme, which will result in workers furloughed and the government pick up the tab for 80 per cent of their salaries.

But, manager Jack Ross and the rest of the coaching and playing staff are more likely to be included in the deferral procedure.

In a statement last month owner Ron Gordon warned that the football shutdown prompted by the coronavirus would have devastating consequences for many in the game and admitted that while they were better positioned than many of their rivals, difficult decisions would still have to be made.

But he also tried to assure supporters and staff.

“Every decision we make will be with two key priorities in mind,” he said. “Firstly to look after our people, and, secondly, to ensure the club remains in as healthy a financial position as possible.”

With the promise in mind, the club addressed management and players in a conference call earlier this week, and stressed that they did not wish to make swingeing wage cuts but instead mooted their proposal to postpone some wage payments.

The deferral of a portion of salary payments will last until football is back on its feet and is considered the fairest way of seeing everyone through the current crisis.

It is also understood that high-ranking individuals at the club will also absorb a financial hit, with the likes of chief executive Leeann Dempster and sporting director Graeme Mathie also agreeing to waive a percentage of their pay until the club’s finances are in a healthier position.

As well as an understanding that no new players will be brought in while others at the club are being paid less than their full salary, a repayment agreement covering the deferred wages is also being drawn up.