Wayne Rooney joined Derby County from DC United in January where he has normally written the headlines for what he has achieved on the field, however, this time it’s off the field matters involving COVID-19 that are headlining the newspapers.
With COVID-19 having a serious financial impact on football clubs, boards are being forced into making decisions which involve reducing the costs financially burdening the club.
It is understood that at Derby County the board are interested in cutting the costs of the player’s wages by half in an attempt to reduce the running costs of the club.
Although Chief Executive Stephen Pearce had proposed to cut the players wages by 50%, this wasn’t taken well by Rooney who decided to take the captain-like responsibility away from the players by disagreeing with what Pearce had suggested.
He informed the Derby board that the players were only willing to take a 25% pay cut, using his authority among the Rams dressing room to good use and standing up for what he believes in.
Derby, who find themselves in 12th position in the Championship, have the impact of Rooney to thank since he made a return to English football in January. The Rams have gone from flirting with relegation to being within 5 points from the playoffs in a matter of months.
With Rooney transforming Derby’s fortunes on the field, he’s now fighting off it to settle a pay deal that suits all parties.
Whilst this debacle continues, it is suggested by Derby that the players should share their accounts so they can make a fully informed decision on whether they slash the player’s wages.
Speaking in his column in the Sunday Times, Rooney shared his views on the proposal, he said:
‘I’m in a position where I could give something up. Not every footballer is in the same position.
‘Yet suddenly the whole profession has been put on the spot with a demand for 30 per cent pay cuts across the board.
‘Why are footballers suddenly the scapegoats?’
