Former Portsmouth pair lead way in Premier League after volunteering pay cuts at Bournemouth

Richard Hughes made 165 appearances for Pompey - and now serves as Bournemouth's technical director. Picture: Allan Hutchings

And fellow ex-Pompey player Richard Hughes is among three Bournemouth staff to follow suit in a bid to ease financial pressure on the club.

Cherries boss Howe, technical director Hughes, assistant boss Jason Tindall and chief executive Neill Blake have all taken pay cuts, described as ‘significant’.

Elsewhere, the Premier League club have furloughed a ‘number of staff’, with the government to pay 80 per cent of their wages.

However, the club have agreed to top up their remaining 20 per cent, ensuring staff will still receive full pay.

Pompey announced on Tuesday they had put all staff and players on furlough.

A Bournemouth statement said: ‘As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to gather pace, there are far more questions than answers regarding its effects.

‘One thing is for certain however, the wellbeing of our employees, supporters, local communities and everyone around the world is of far greater significance than football matches.

Eddie Howe up against Richard Hughes during training at Eastleigh in their Pompey days. Picture: Steve Reid

‘There is no script for moments like this. No tactics and no set plays to find a winning formula, but as a board we are continually looking at ways to ensure the future of the club and our employees is protected when the season returns.’

Howe had two Pompey outings during an injury-ravaged spell, while Hughes recorded 165 appearances and scored three times, from June 2002 until the summer of 2011.

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