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West Brom chief executive Mark Jenkins
West Brom chief executive Mark Jenkins

West Brom: Chief executive Mark Jenkins to give up salary during coronavirus crisis

By Sporting Life
Football
Sun April 05, 2020 · 5y ago

West Brom chief executive Mark Jenkins has announced that he will not take home any salary during the coronavirus crisis, with other senior management also taking parge pay cuts.

There is no return set for football as the UK remains on lockdown, and with finances at many sides looking bleak, Baggies chief Jenkins feels it is not right to take home any pay.

The Baggies are on the brink of a return to the Premier League once football resumes, provided the current season is to be played to a finish.

Coronavirus and football latest

While the wait continues at the Hawthorns, Jenkins says he will not be taking a wage from the club.

He said: "It is only correct that for the duration of this lockdown I take a 100 per cent cut in my salary and other members of the senior management team have also offered to take significant reductions in their remuneration.

"But everybody is fully aware these are very uncertain times in which we simply cannot forecast what the future holds.

"Until we regain a level of certainty, we cannot be sure if planned income will actually be received or if we will be forced to utilise cash the club already holds to refund existing commitments.

"What we do know for fact is that our operations are almost completely closed down and we are receiving virtually no income.

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"Almost all of the club's usual costs still need to be paid, the majority of which are wages whether this be admin staff, maintenance teams, management or, of course, the first-team players."

Albion, who are second in the Sky Bet Championship, are yet to furlough their staff but Jenkins confirmed it remains an option while they will speak to the squad about their wages depending on how long football is postponed for.

"Like many other clubs we have considered using a furlough approach with non-playing staff who are now unable to work owing to the lockdown and we have made plans for this eventuality," he told West Brom's website.

"At present we have not been required to sanction this action, but if the lockdown continues and football remains 'on-hold' then this decision may have to be changed.

"What we will pledge is to ensure none of the staff effected suffer a reduction in pay; the club will make up the 20 per cent shortfall not covered by the Government's coronavirus job retention scheme.

"Clearly there has been a lot of media attention on player wages and the comments of the PFA. It is difficult to forecast our future position because of the various ways the club receives its income.

"But if we continue to be unable to play football in any format, we will discuss this further with the players who I am confident will want to play their part."

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