DERBY boss Wayne Rooney has reportedly deferred a portion of his £90,000-a-week wages to ensure his players get paid.
The Championship club is experiencing a financial crisis while it waits for a takeover by Sheikh Khaled’s Derventio Holdings to go through.
Wayne Rooney has reportedly deferred some of his wagesCredit: PA:Press Association
A deal to sell the club was agreed by owner Mel Morris in November, with a transfer embargo currently in place.
Morris is said to be reluctant to inject his own cash into the club ahead of the takeover.
And the Mail report how manager Rooney has stepped in to help the Rams out.
The striker-turned-coach is thought to be earning £90,000-a-week, which would perhaps be the highest salary in the division.
On a two-and-a-half-year contract, he has told the club that he will defer part of his salary to divert funds to his players.
The squad’s December wages were not paid on time.
With the takeover and salary situation, it’s difficult for players, and it’s difficult for me in that I can’t go into the transfer market.
Wayne Rooney
Derby reportedly reimbursed players on Monday and have stated that January’s wages will go through on Friday as planned.
Rooney is said to have been key to the squad agreeing a previous wage deferral last season.
Amid serious doubts over the takeover going through, the 35-year-old has insisted he will not quit the Rams if it collapses.
When questioned on the situation last week, he stated: “Ideally, I want players in.
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Colin Kazim-Richards netted a vital winner for Derby on the weekendCredit: Getty Images – Getty
“We need that. But if we can’t I believe in the quality of the players we’ve got here.
“With the takeover and the salary situation, it’s difficult for players, and it’s difficult for me in that I can’t go into the transfer market at the moment.
“Ideally, the quicker the players get paid, the quicker we can move on. Then we can look at players we want to bring in.”
After consecutive wins over Bournemouth and QPR, Derby sit five points clear of the Championship relegation zone.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk