Leeds Rhinos have announced all staff, including players and directors, will be taking temporary salary cuts amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The game has been suspended for the last month, and no restart date is currently being considered. The UK is also under lockdown to try and slow the spread of COVID-19.
Leeds have also confirmed that staff that are currently on furlough leave are expected to stay on the scheme until the end of June at the earliest.
They say in a statement: “The Board have now made the decision to make a number of temporary salary cut to be effective from this month.
“The aim of the reductions is to ensure the club remains in business until at least the end of the year and secondly, to preserve the employment of players and staff.
“The cuts will apply to all our employees including the club’s players and directors. The reductions are in proportion to relative earnings and those who earn the most have been asked to shoulder the heaviest burden at this time.
“For our lowest paid employees, the club has protected the UK Living Wage threshold so no salary will fall below £19,344 per annum.
Whilst these arrangements cover April, May and June, they could be extended to November if the business is not able to operate as normal in the future, the Leeds Board will review the situation at the appropriate time but the hope, and intent, is to return to normal as soon as possible.”
