Former Sheffield Wednesday boss Brian Laws' plan for 'millionaire' Premier League players - including Sheffield United's - to help clubs in coronavirus crisis

Brian Laws, the former Sheffield Wednesday manager, has urged Premier League stars – including those playing for Sheffield United – to donate a month’s wages to help out lower-league clubs hit hard by coronavirus.
Brian LawsBrian Laws
Brian Laws

With all football in England and Wales postponed, some clubs towards the bottom of the pyramid are braced for a tough financial time with the loss of gate receipts and other matchday income.

Life in the Premier League is not expected to be as financially difficult, with the majority of clubs’ income in the top-flight coming from TV companies rather than directly from fans.

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And Laws, who also managed in the Premier League with Burnley, told the BBC: "Premier League players could help a lot.

"Every player in the Premier League is a millionaire. They can afford to live a month having lost the £60,000 or £100,000 that they earn a week."

Although those figures have grossly exaggerated what any player at United currently earns, Laws added: “It is not like they are scraping by like they are in the lower leagues, who are hand-to-mouth.

"Their futures are safe, if they don't kick another football for the rest of their lives they are millionaires and are secure.

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"You are talking about 30 to 40 players per club, and then you put that in a pot and the Premier League clubs disperse that down the leagues to help support them through this.

"What you would be asking for is that players give something up."

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