Brentford FC Reported to Be Considering Wage Cuts

Believed to be first Championship club to reach agreement with players

Brentford's star players may have to accept reduced pay. Picture: Brentford FC

Brentford FC are reported to have reached agreement with their playing staff over possible wage reductions.

A number of national newspapers have reported that they have held talks with the English Football League and the Professional Footballer’s Association about a scheme which will involve the deferral of a portion of the players’ pay. The first team squad players would be asked to accept across the board pay limiting them to a maximum of £5,000-a-week.

The Championship team currently lie fourth in the table in a play-off meaning that Premier League football next season remains possible if this year’s fixtures are completed.

Many of the squad are already been looked at closely by teams currently in the top division including the so-called ‘BMW’ trio of strikers Said Benrahma, Bryan Mbeumo and Ollie Watkins. Watkins is reportedly being considered by Arsenal.

Club owner Matthew Benham financed the club through the profits made from his online betting business but it is understood that this has seen a sharp drop in revenues due to the absence of live sport.

The club was also hoping for a revenue boost from the sale of the Griffin Park site and the development of flats around their new stadium. A condition of planning approval was that the stadium should be completed before flats in the development were marketed.

We have asked Brentford FC for comment on the reports.

April 3, 2020