Even wealthy clubs are considering pay cuts – Dr. Randy Abbey

Executive Council Member of the Ghana Football Association, Dr. Randy Abbey has advised the public to take the financial capabilities of the local clubs into consideration before they kick against plans by clubs in Ghana to slash player salary due to the Coronavirus induced suspension of football.

The debate on local players taking a pay cut to ease the financial burden on clubs in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic which has halted the league indefinitely has taken a morale twist with many sympathizing with the footballers due to the meagre salaries they earn.

But according to the owner of Divison One side Hearts of Lions, if the clubs are losing their main source of revenue which is the gate proceeds then, why should we begrudge them for trying to take such a step in balancing their books.

In an interview with Kumasi-based Nhyira FM, he said if even wealthy clubs in Europe and elsewhere are taking steps to slash player salaries, then why shouldn’t it be replicated by the financially handicapped clubs.

“I hear people make the arguments and sometimes you hear them say, what the players take is meagre so we shouldn’t look at it. That is a very simplistic way of looking at it. At the end of the day, those jurisdictions rolling out pay cuts also look at the financial capabilities of the clubs."

“So even with wealthy clubs, they are looking at pay cuts, what about clubs that cannot even make ends meet? You cannot make a meaningful discussion when you isolate one side of the equation.”

He added that the salaries of the local players are a true reflection of the financial status of the league and the clubs.

“If a Division One club makes GHS500 or GHS1000 from the gates at the end of a match, how do you expect players in that league to be also paid? How much?

“So, you cannot just look at how much the players earn; what about how much the clubs also earn? he asked.