Mike Ashley’s Newcastle become first Prem club to place staff on leave amid coronavirus lockdown

NEWCASTLE are the first Premier League club to place non-first-team staff on leave.

While other top-flight sides battle to protect employees, billionaire owner Mike Ashley yesterday put the majority of employees out of work.

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Newcastle’s billionaire owner Mike Ashley put the majority of employees out of workCredit: EPA

An email from managing director Lee Charnley told staff they would need to apply to the government’s coronavirus job retention scheme.

This would allow them to claim back 80 per cent of their wages, to a maximum of £2,500 per month.

While players and first team coaches are not affected, the move includes scouts and academy coaches.

Workers at Newcastle’s foundation charity, who were helping deliver food parcels to the city’s most vulnerable last week, have also been placed on furlough.

Toon chiefs justified the decision to ensure the club’s survival during a testing time, when over £1million from gate receipts is being lost for every cancelled home match.

But this move is just the latest in recent weeks to enrage both Newcastle supporters, who last week accused the club of refusing to freeze or suspend season ticket payments for next season.

Writing for Toon fan site The Mag, Dean Wilkins said: “I didn’t think it was possible to feel more ashamed to be a Newcastle United fan but this has brought an unprecedented low.

“I have become well used to embarrassing scenes on the pitch. However, to see what has been done by Mike Ashley off the pitch isn’t just embarrassing, it is scandalous.

“A billionaire who owns a football club that in the end didn’t spend around £28m of the transfer funds Lee Charnley said were available for this current season, yet instantly pulls the plug for paying normal staff’s wages, leaving them relying on the government to pay up to 80% of their usual pay.”

During the coronavirus lockdown, the Sports Direct owner lobbied the government last week to keep his shops open, arguing they were an “essential service”.

Having backed down after a backlash, Ashley said he was “deeply apologetic”.

The Newcastle owner may now be forced to lower his asking price for the club amid takeover interest from Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund.

It is claimed that the Premier League having been notified of a £340million bid led by the oil-rich nation’s Public Investment Fund, who would buy an 80 per cent stake.

Staff were told would need to apply to the government’s coronavirus job retention schemeCredit: PA:Press Association

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk