Doncaster Rovers staff face compulsory redundancy programme

Staff across the Club Doncaster organisation - including the Rovers coaching team - have entered a period of consultation, with numerous jobs set to be lost in the coming weeks.

The precise number of jobs to be cut has yet to be revealed.

A club spokesperson confirmed the redundancy programme was underway and said the situation was ‘unavoidable’ due to the financial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Redundancies come after the vast majority of club staff, including the playing squad, were placed on furlough in early April. Rovers players also agreed to defer a portion of their wages until matches could be played again with supporters present while some senior club staff also accepted salary cuts.

A spokesperson for Club Doncaster said: “Unfortunately, we are in a position where we have had to put some positions at risk of redundancy.

“This is not a step the club wanted to take, but in the current situation is unavoidable, with many other football teams and organisations across the country having to take similar actions.

“The generosity of supporters, the salary sacrifices made by senior staff and players, the additional funding provided by our owners has been incredibly helpful but realistically we are expecting a significant decrease in all of our revenue streams for at least the next 12 months.

“Therefore we need to consider how we reduce costs and adjust the structure of the club, if it is to survive.

“Whilst redundancies are likely to be made, we will endeavour to minimise job losses and ensure we have a staff base that can be responsive to the new challenges and opportunities that we may face in the future.

“We remain committed to being an organisation that can continue to be competitive, lead in the community and importantly grow again once the time is right.”

Staff at the club were offered the opportunity to take voluntary redundancy in May but it is understood the response was not considerable enough to avoid a compulsory round of job cuts.

Rovers have been promoting a fundraising drive ‘In Rovers Supporters We Trust’ which has seen supporters donate more than £4,000 in the first week.

It has also been confirmed that the vast majority of those who purchased tickets for unplayed 2019/20 matches that have responded to the club have informed them they will not be seeking refunds.

Chief executive Gavin Baldwin told the Free Press last month that budgeting across the club was being carried out based on the worst case scenario of supporters not being allowed in stadiums for the remainder of the year.

It is understood that there are tentative plans for the 2020/21 League One season to begin in mid to late September, with growing optimism that grounds will be permitted to open, albeit with reduced capacities.

Matchday revenue makes up by far the largest revenue stream for clubs in the third tier. The lack of revenue played a major role in the majority of clubs voting to curtail the 19/20 season rather than attempting to resume the campaign.

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