Dons ask staff to take temporary wage cuts over 'growing funding gap'

Aberdeen FC are asking their staff to take temporary wage cuts.

The Dons say they have begun conversations with management, staff and players - due to a growing "funding gap" at Pittodrie.

They say they want to ensure any cut is "fair and equitable" to everyone at the club.

The Reds have lost substantial amounts of income since matches were stopped in mid-March.

Fans will not be allowed into stadiums when games return in August, meaning income is likely to remain low for some time to ocme.

Chairman Dave Cormack said: "Throughout this challenging period, the board has pledged to do what it can to safe-guard jobs, protect those on lower incomes, ensure the economic viability of the club and support the trust’s community outreach campaign that is providing for those most in need.

"Our initial assumptions were that we’d get back to playing football in front of crowds in September. The reality is that we now face playing games behind closed doors and, perhaps, with limited crowds until at least January.

"We said right at the start of this that no club, not even one as financially robust as Aberdeen, could withstand a collapse of income that extended beyond September. Back playing in front of fans, hopefully in January 2021, will mean a ten-month period with limited income. The financial situation we therefore face is stark. 

"I am confident that the board, management, staff and players will continue to pull together to do what’s best for the club. Our goal remains to do everything we can to look after our people and continue to invest in the success of our club on the field."