Institute go down furlough route during coronavirus crisis

The Coronavirus Job Retention programme means employees can claim up to 80% of their wage (up to £2,500 per month) during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Crusaders and Coleraine are also furloughing staff and Anderson has confirmed that the Waterside men began looking at the venture a number of weeks ago. Mr Anderson also praised the Irish Football Association after 'Stute and all other Premiership clubs received a cash boost.

Last season’s 12 Premiership sides received a £16,000 grant from an extra UEFA Solidarity fund to help ease financial problems during the coronavirus crisis, after IFA chief executive, Patrick Nelson and his team got money fast-tracked from UEFA, much to Anderson’s delight.

“Yes, the government furlough scheme is something we are looking at,” insisted Anderson. “However currently the scheme only lasts for 12 weeks - from March, April and May.

“When all football was suspended on March 13th the club had seven games still to play and five of those were home games. As a consequence, all financial income stopped overnight.

“If it had not been for the fairly immediate response of the NIFL and the IFA we would have been unable to pay outstanding debts to local businesses.

“In addition, we would have been forced to stop all payments to contracted players and senior coaches. However, that financial support has allowed us to continue paying contracted staff for the foreseeable future.”

Anderson also confirmed that the club have been in regular contact with boss, Sean Connor who has been updating his back-room team and players.

“We are in daily contact with Sean Connor who, in turn, is in contact with our players. However, everything is so uncertain that it would be foolish to try and predict anything more than a week or two in advance,” he added.

“To be honest, I know that many of us love football, but I would be really surprised if very many people thought that football was important just now. I’m sure that in the grand scheme of things football is pretty far down people’s list of priorities.

“As for the club’s plans, we will take our lead from the NIFL and the IFA who no doubt will be taking their lead from UEFA. In the meantime, all we can do is play our part in trying to ensure the wellbeing of our players, coaches, staff and supporters.”

The ’Stute chairman also admitted that players’ contracts, which expire at the end of the season, is something UEFA will certainly be looking at.

“Players’ contracts will need to be discussed - but probably not until a decision is made about whether the season can be completed,” he added.

“Personally, I don’t see any possibility of that happening, unless there is some sort of dramatic development in relation to the Covid 19 situation.

“I can’t see the league finishing before the end of May anyway. I hear talk of completing the season in August/September and having a truncated 20/21 season.

“However, I don’t see how that would square things with teams still having the same squad of players.”

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