GARY NEVILLE has blasted the Premier League for five failures including “blindsiding” players and furloughing staff amid the coronavirus pandemic.
On Friday, following a meeting with the EFL, PFA and LMA, the Premier League issued a lengthy statement which suspended the top flight indefinitely and pledged £20million to the NHS.
It was also confirmed that £125m would go to the EFL and National League, but this would only be an advanced payment rather than an increase – which many feel is required to keep clubs alive amid the coronavirus crisis.
Manchester United legend Neville feels the whole approach amid this unprecedented situation has been an unmitigated “PR disaster”.
And he took to Twitter to criticise the Premier League’s plan, while listing the five key areas that have been handled “terribly”.
He said: “The Premier League are handling the coronavirus crisis terribly. Slow to lockdown, tried one last weekend of games.
“Furloughing straight away a PR disaster. Turning on players publicly, trying to blindside them. No increase in funding for EFL, National League. All stakeholders unhappy with their approach.”
In a second tweet, Neville added: “Football has too many stakeholders with different interests. They all meet regularly and say they collaborate but when s*** hits the fan, the Premier League has all the power and go solo!
“It’s unravelling before our eyes. A re-alignment for all clubs, fans and the game would be welcome.”
The top flight of English football is off indefinitely, with coronavirus continuing to sweep across the nation with devastating consequences.
The Premier League finally bowed to pressure and announced they were suspending the season on March 13.
But by then, La Liga and Serie A had already been KO’d after the outbreak began to spread across Europe at the end of February.
The Premier League’s late decision came AFTER Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta and Chelsea starlet Callum Hudson-Odoi both tested positive for the virus.
Gunners aces were put at risk of contracting the virus after coming into contact with Olympiacos owner Evangelos Marinakis – who was later found to have coronavirus.
A number of clubs announced some of their players were showing symptoms before the top flight was called to a halt.
The government’s furlough scheme covers 80 per cent of wages up to £2500 per month and Liverpool have become the latest club to use the scheme to put non-playing staff on temporary leave.
The Premier League leaders want taxpayers to cough up 80 per cent of the wages of employees despite a £533m turnover and furious Kop legends have slammed Liverpool for their “disgusting” decision.
Newcastle were the first top-flight club to furlough non-playing staff, followed by Tottenham, Bournemouth and Norwich.
At Spurs, all 550 non-playing staff have seen their wages cut by 20 per cent for an initial period of two months – and the club has been roundly criticised for it.
Premier League chiefs and club executives thought that players were ready to buy into their proposal for a wage cut or deferral of up to 30 per cent designed to stave off financial meltdown.
But they were told by players that they want to help the NHS rather than rich owners.
Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne, Watford captain Troy Deeney and West Ham skipper Mark Noble led the fightback in a video conference.
Players wanted to be sure the proceeds of any wage cut would guarantee staff at their clubs receive 100 per cent of their wages, support EFL and non-league clubs, and help fund “the real heroes” of the NHS.
A conference call took place on Saturday with more than 60 people believed to have taken part — at least one player from each of the 20 top-flight clubs, plus managers, executives and leading figures from the Prem.
They were told that, in the worst case scenario of the 2019-20 season not resuming, the overall cost to clubs would be more than £1billion in lost TV rights payments, matchday revenue and sponsorship income.
As well as this, £762m would be returned in a potential broadcast rebate package for Sky Sports, BT Sport and international broadcasters if the season could not be completed.
They unanimously agreed that they have no idea when the season will restart and emphasised it will only happen when it is safe to do so.
