Government virus scheme to pay Mansfield Town wages

With no gate revenue coming in and the season on indefinite hold, Mansfield's staff received a letter on Wednesday asking them to sign an agreement allowing the club to ask the government to pay 80 per cent of their wages up to a maximum of £2,500 as the coronavirus pandemic wreaks havoc.

The Government's furlough scheme is being utilised by businesses across the country who have been hit by the virus lockdown.

When the virus halted matches, chairman Radford had said he would fund the club in the short term but did not have bottomless pockets and would need Government help.

The PFA had initially warned players to hold off signing any furlough agreements as they were unsure whether footballers on fixed contracts were deemed eligible under Government guidelines.

However, after further talks, the PFA agreed with Mansfield that players would be paid as normal but could be termed as 'furloughed workers' to allow the club to seek reimbursement for the outlay under the Government scheme.

Mansfield are reputed to be among the better payers in League Two with some of the players said to be on salaries of around £2,100 a week.

Clubs including Forest Green Rovers and MK Dons have proposed similar cuts for their staff, while some have even explored whether they can put players on statutory sick pay of £13.46 a day.

Leeds United and Birmingham City are among clubs to have agreed wage deferrals while Peterborough United are also understood to have discussed a deferral but failed to come to an agreement.