PREMIER LEAGUE captains have brokered a deal worth £4million to fund the NHS
The 20 club skippers have completed four days of talks to rubber-stamp the ground-breaking plan during the coronavirus crisis.
Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson and Man Utd defender Harry Maguire have worked closely on the deal, while Mark Noble of West Ham and Watford’s Troy Deeney will also help administer the scheme.
The cash boost from the players has been done independently from both the PFA and the Premier League.
The captains, who have been communicating via whatsapp, want the cash to go to local hospitals in their specific areas.
But the amounts will remain anonymous as some clubs – and individual players – will be putting in more than others because there is such a difference in wages between sides in the Premier League.
Each club captain has spoken to their players and taken note of pledges from team-mates. It will be at least £3m in total but it is hoped that £4m will be reached – although it could even be more.
Both Henderson and Maguire put aside their club rivalries with Liverpool and United to work on the plan.
But it was felt that four senior players were needed to help in terms of collecting the money and to help the process continue smoothly.
This is why Noble and Deeney are also heavily involved in this unique fund-raiser for the NHS.
Premier League players have suffered stinging criticism throughout the crisis for not helping out, although they are refusing to take pay cuts with their clubs.
Secretary of state Matt Hancock slammed football players for not having their wages reduced but already in the previous week, Liverpool skipper Henderson had been working on this fund.
Senior players at all the teams started contact in an attempt to move forward but they have needed the approval of fellow players.
Yesterday, the captains at all the clubs finally agreed to the fund and decided that they could now make an announcement.
