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Saints player breaks silence on wages deferment

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Southampton vice-captain James Ward-Prowse says all the squad wanted to “repay” the local community after the Saints became the first Premier League side to announce player wage deferrals.

The whole first-team squad and coaching staff, including manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, have deferred part of their salaries for April, May and June, to ensure non-playing staff continue to be paid.

The figure for what percentage of their wages has been deferred has not been disclosed by the club but is thought to 10%.

In an interview with BBC Sport, Ward-Prowse said being the first club “wasn’t any part of the decision-making”.

“We wanted to make a good, mature, calculated decision on what was needed,” he said.

“It wasn’t done for a ‘well done, you’re the first club to do it’. It was done out of thinking ahead and thinking what is best for the club and the community.

I’m proud, as a Southampton player, to be part of the club because the decision was made in a very good way and it really sums up and epitomises what the club is all about.

“A lot of other football clubs go about it in different ways, which is fine, but the way all the players and staff came together really sums us up what we are about as a club.

“On a Saturday at 3pm, the community comes together for the club, it’s all about the team and what we’re doing, and the way we went about it was ensuring that we could repay them by the decision that we made.”

West Ham became the second Premier League club to defer wages with an agreement with the players thought to be somewhere between 20% and 30% also for three months.

At the time of the announcement, West Ham Captain Mark Noble said  “As players we have been in constant dialogue with the Club since the situation emerged and I am proud that our entire squad have made clear their strong desire to play our part in helping to support others through this situation. 

At West Ham United, we are one team and our priority reflects the Club’s aim to help ensure the staff get 100% of their salaries while we are unable to play our matches. We continue to do all we can, collectively and individually, throughout this period for the benefit of those around us, our colleagues, our supporters and our community. 

“On behalf of the players I send our best wishes to all of our supporters and their families, especially those who have been directly affected by the virus, and I look forward to the day that we can all be back together again.” 

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I am Season Ticket Holder in West stand lower at the London Stadium and before that, I used to stand in the Sir Trevor Brooking Lower Row R seat 159 in the Boleyn Ground and in the Eighties I stood on the terraces of the old South Bank. I am a presenter on the West Ham Podcast called Moore Than Just a Podcast A Blogger on West Ham Till I die a member of the West Ham Supporters Advisory Board (SAB), Founder of a Youtube channel called Mr West Ham Football at http://www.youtube.com/MrWestHamFootball,

I am also the associate editor here at Claret and Hugh.

Life Long singer of bubbles! Come on you Irons!

Follow me at @Westhamfootball on twitter

3 comments

  • Hammerkip says:

    First time Ive looked for a while …..must be hard for you hugh ..not alot of comments due to no stories…the sooner they void this season the better ..then at least we can plan for nxt season…not really interested in how much money the players and clubs will or will not get as they are all millionaires and billionaires anyway so I’m sure they will survive 🤣 feel very sorry for people who are struggling to put food on the table and pay the Bill’s …I’m the same 4 th week of not working and things are getting worrying. Stay safe

    • Hammer_Rite says:

      I hope everything works out for you Hammerkip.

      • Hammerkip says:

        Thank you mate ..its a struggle for sure especially working for myself..but there are lots worse of than me …stay safe buddy

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