Portsmouth FC chief executive says it's time to get back to work - as the club withdraws its casual workers from furlough scheme

Between 200 to 300 casual members of staff at Pompey have been on the government’s furlough scheme since the pandemic started.

However, with this scheme due to taper out from September 1, the club has decided to withdraw its staff.

CEO Mark Catlin said the scheme, which allowed employers to keep staff on their books but put them on temporary leave, had been a lifeline for the club.

He said: ‘The club throughout the last six months has taken advantage of the government's furlough scheme for our casual workers. Now that scheme is coming to an end, and in line with more obligations being placed on the club, we have taken the decision to take them off the scheme.

‘As the games come back, they will eventually be brought back to work. We feel it is the right time to bring people back to work.’

From September 1, employers are expected to pay a 10 per cent contribution towards the furlough scheme. In October this increases to 20 per cent and the scheme will finish completely on October 31.

At the height of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, nationally more than eight million people were furloughed. An investigation by The News revealed 76,000 people in The News’ area were on the scheme.

Mr Catlin said the club was desperate to return to some sort of normality.

The new season has already started – Pompey played Stevenage in the Carabao Cup on Saturday.

Their first home game of the new season is on Tuesday, against Colchester in the EFL Trophy, being held behind closed doors.

But more importantly their League One campaign begins on Saturday, September 12 at Fratton Park, also behind closed doors.

SEE ALSO: Fears raised as figures show 76,000 people are furloughed in The News' area

Mr Catlin said there was the potential of some fans returning inside the stadium in October, subject to confirmation by the government and the EFL

He said: ‘We are desperate to get fans back in as with no fans and no spend, we are suffering a loss of between £600,000 to £700,000 per month, and have done so ever since lockdown started. This will continue for the next three to six months at least, or until the time someone finds a cure or a vaccine, or the government takes the view that fans can come back in.’

Various schemes have been set up by the club as it looked at other ways of making cash, such as shirt sales and a flex-season ticket to replace a season ticket, which Mr Catlin praised the fans for supporting.

‘The fans have been brilliant,’ he said. ‘We have had an amazing response to everything we have done. Our fans have got behind the club every step of the way. We thank them for that support but it does not equate having them physically at matches.’

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