DCMS committee chairman Knight takes aim at Premier League

‘A promise of jam tomorrow won’t cut it when players go on earning their millions’: DCMS committee chairman Julian Knight takes aim at ‘leaderless’ Premier League and calls for players to give more in fight against coronavirus

The government Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee chairman Julian Knight has criticised the ‘leaderless’ Premier League and urged players to take pay cuts as the nation battles the coronavirus pandemic.

Multiple Premier League clubs have furloughed non-playing staff in recent days, whilst players will continue to receive their full wages. 

On Thursday, Health secretary Matt Hancock called on top flight players to make concessions and now Knight has called on Premier League bosses to take action.

DCMS committee chairman Julian Knight has criticised the ‘leaderless’ Premier League

‘What the public wants to see is fairness,’ Knight said. ‘What’s been announced are no more than plans to ask players to defer taking their high salaries. That’s not a pay cut and what happens if they say no? 

‘What’s needed now is leadership from the Premier League and that’s not on offer today. 

‘The position for non-playing staff who’ve been furloughed is no different today to that of yesterday. A promise of jam tomorrow won’t cut it when players go earning their millions. 

‘What is welcome is the £125million that’s going to help finance struggling clubs with some weeks, if not days, from going to the wall, and the welcome money that will help our NHS services.’  

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