Cod Almighty | Diary

Duty of care

3 July 2019

Yesterday’s statement from the Macclesfield Town players painted a stark picture of 21st-century professional football. It appears that the Silkmen have become the latest Football League team to adopt the new trend of not paying their staff. Macc players pulled no punches. While they thanked people for their support, they added: "Well wishes do not pay our mortgages or feed our children."

This latest crisis follows Bolton’s capitulation off the pitch towards the end of last season, which saw them unable to fulfil a fixture, and Bury’s apparently interminable residence at the High Court. In both cases staff were not getting paid, which has led to a relegation and points deduction for Wanderers and a fire sale at Bury just after their promotion.

Although it is the players who tend to put out statements, it is important to point out that at the end of the month all staff at these clubs are not getting paid. Players, as we know, come and go and, luckily for them, can often find new employment fairly quickly. The others? They will be local people working at their local football club, paid a not considerable wage to enact roles such as commercial manager, club store worker and receptionist.

They are unlikely to get offers from Plymouth to establish a new marketing back four but will still have those mouths to feed and people to house.

Thunderdiary knows that the game of professional football is awash with money, yet staff not getting paid is becoming more and more common. On one hand you can level this at the greedy bastards at the top of the game, creaming 98 per cent of the money for themselves. Irrefutable evidence of this is that Huddersfield’s miserable 2018-19 season will be offset by over £96million – or £6million for every point they gained. They will also receive £45 million in parachute payments over the next two years.

On the other, clubs are systematically run into the ground or chasing the dream of Premiergold. Bury’s rollercoaster up and down the lower leagues saw them rack up nearly £3million of debt – hardly sustainable on moderate crowds in an urban hotspot.

Add to this the shabby goings-on at Coventry – who are once more sharing a 'home' ground next season – and Notts County, also on the cusp of receivership, proving that uncertain futures are becoming all too real.

The players and staff at Bolton, Bury and Macclesfield no doubt hold the malevolent proprietors responsible for their situations, and rightly so. Playing with people’s livelihoods is contemptible and completely against the spirit of our game.

Town may soon have new owners who may or may not be awash with cash. Of course, we are all hoping that new blood equals new ideas and a fresh impetus for the football club. Let us not forget, however, that despite our relegations, disastrous managerial appointments, lack of business nous and pathetic public spats, the players and staff of Grimsby Town Football Club have always been paid on time.

Whoever is in charge come August, that must always be the number one priority.