Purkiss: Wage cuts comments are “unsettling”
Defender Ben Purkiss says players “are probably a little bit worried” after talk of potential wages cuts next season.
Chairman Norman Smurthwaite said that is he fails to sell the club then the player wage budget will be cut and out-of-contract players can expect to be asked to take pay cuts of up to 40 per cent to stay.
It is a little bit unsettling. The players are looking at that and are probably a little bit worried…
Purkiss told the Sentinel: “It is difficult when you read the press that you are going to take a 40 per cent pay cut or something like that.
“Imagine if you are in your normal job, as a reporter for example, and all of a sudden The Sentinel puts on its front page ‘we are going to have to cut everyone’s wages by 40 per cent’.
“That’s a lot. Everyone lives to their means really and it is not like we have players on £100,000 a week who might have to take £60,000. I think most people could handle that.
“It is a little bit unsettling. The players are looking at that and are probably a little bit worried and have one eye on what they are going to do next year because people have houses, families and kids.
“So, you just have to go out and give it your best every game, trust in your performances and trust if you don’t get something here, you will be noticed somewhere else and move on.”