Liverpool fans relieved at club’s reversal of decision to furlough some staff

A number of Liverpool fans have welcomed the club’s reversal of their decision to place some non-playing staff on furlough following widespread condemnation.

In an open letter published on the club’s official website liverpoolfc.com, chief executive officer Peter Moore confirmed that they have “opted to find alternative means despite our eligibility to apply for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme”, which would have seen the government paying 80% of the salaries of staff who were due to be laid off. He also acknowledged that the club “came to the wrong conclusion” and expressed sorrow at their initial decision.

https://twitter.com/_pauljoyce/status/1247215458262093824

Paul Joyce, The Times’ Northern Football Correspondent, subsequently tweeted (via @_pauljoyce) news of Liverpool’s backtracking regarding the decision to furlough some employees. Many Reds fans, along with Jamie Carragher and the Spirit of Shankly supporters’ group, had been highly critical of Liverpool’s initial engagement with the government’s furlough scheme. Some Premier League clubs have furloughed staff over the past few days amid cash flow reductions from a lack of matches.

These Reds supporters on Twitter gave their views on the club’s reversal of Saturday’s furlough decision:

In other words, they fell into pressure. Thank god we have a fan base that are loud enough so the owners can hear us.

Hope they learn from this, never again.

— Nasir (@LFCNasir) April 6, 2020

Better late than never, embarrassing decision In the first place though

— 6 (@_JackWilson1) April 6, 2020

Thank god. The outrage actually did something

— ?6?? (@chielinilookout) April 6, 2020

Good !!! Don’t embarrass our club again

— TKop (@Timy_86) April 6, 2020

Well done @PeterMooreLFC, @LFC and FSG for making the right decision in the end. It takes strength and courage to admit you got it wrong!

— Mohammed Arif (@mar1f70) April 6, 2020