Furlough saved AFC Fylde from tough decisions says owner David Haythornthwaite

Owner David Haythornthwaite says the Government’s furlough scheme has provided vital assistance to AFC Fylde as he continues to encourage players and staff to find employment elsewhere.
David Haythornthwaite has put the vast majority of AFC Fylde's players and staff on furloughDavid Haythornthwaite has put the vast majority of AFC Fylde's players and staff on furlough
David Haythornthwaite has put the vast majority of AFC Fylde's players and staff on furlough
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“We’d have had to make some really tough decisions, so fair play and thanks where it’s due.”

Almost all players and staff at Mill Farm have been placed on the scheme whereby the Government pays 80 per cent of wages.

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The scheme will continue until the end of September, though for the final two months employers will have to make a contribution.

Furloughhas not spared the club all wage payments. Haythornthwaite explained: “Of all the players currently on contract, only two have refused to sign the furlough paperwork the club provided.

“Those two are being paid 50 per of their salary, which we agreed we would do and which we thought was fair.

“The furlough scheme only goes to £2,500 a month. Some of our players are on more than that, so we agreed at the very beginning to top that up to 80 per cent of salary.

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“Everyone knows the situation isn’t getting better and it’s not going to get better. At the moment at least everyone knows that for June and July they will get paid as they have for the last two months.”

But with furlough due to be phased out, Haythornthwaite continues to urge all players and staff to seek alternative employment to boost their wages.

He added: “They are free to supplement their income in any way they want to, as some of the staff at Fylde have been doing by coming to work in one of my other businesses.

“We are not asking our players to work – we can’t under furlough – but you are able to go and get another job somewhere else.

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“It may seem strange but we encourage them to do that, especially those with commitments they are not able to avoid.

“We’ve got four or five now in the (VetPlus) factory helping out. (Young forward) Sheldon Green was one of them.

“He was the first footballer but we have not heard from anyone else. And I assume if we don’t hear from them that they are all healthy and happy or as happy as they can be – and some of them have maybe found work elsewhere.”

Haythornthwaite maintains that treating all employees fairly and honestly has been key to Fylde’s approach throughout the crisis.

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He added: “Most people are decent and if you treat them decently they will treat you back decently. We’ve tried to do that.

“The most important thing is to be honest. You won’t always get the answer you want from me but you’ll get an honest answer.

“I’m not a ‘Band Aid’ person who will put a Band Aid on a problem. If we’ve got a problem, I’d rather get to the root of it and solve it. They may not like our solution but we have an answer.