Rangers manager Steven Gerrard and players to defer wages amid coronavirus pandemic

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard and his coaching staff have agreed to wage deferrals

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard said it was a "no brainer" for him, his staff, and the first-team squad to volunteer to defer their salaries for three months.

Executive directors of the Scottish Premiership club will also defer their wages for the same period.

The Glasgow side also intend to furlough "a number of employees" due to the "extraordinary challenges" presented by the coronavirus crisis, but will top up wages to ensure staff are paid in full.

"The players and the directors and staff have shown good leadership and responsibility by doing this voluntarily to defer their wages," Gerrard told Rangers TV. "I think it was a no brainer and the right thing to do.

"I think it's important you show respect to all the people at the club whatever your role is, and I think we have shown real good togetherness by doing this.

"I'm very proud of the efforts and support of everyone at the club. I think it was unanimous everyone wanted to do this."

Scottish football was suspended in March with no date set for a return.

Clubs have announced varying measures to combat the lack of income caused by no football, including wage deferrals and cuts, fresh investment and use of the government's job retention scheme.

"Senior players and staff were keen to ensure that no Rangers employee suffered financial hardship during this crisis," a club statementexternal-link said.

"All parties volunteered and wholeheartedly agreed to defer wages to ensure that fellow colleagues could continue to be paid their salaries in full.

"We are proud of the leadership and responsibility taken by senior members of staff, and acknowledge the positive impact that this will have on everyone at Rangers."

Dave King stepped down as the chairman of Rangers in March, stating that plans for fresh investment had been put on hold.

But Rangers later said a funding plan, agreed at the club's AGM, was well advanced.

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