By Chris Wright
The playing staff at debt-ridden Portsmouth (lead by veteran keeper David James and club captain Herman Hreidarsson) are preparing to pass the hat in order to keep a number of key training ground staff in employment until the end of the season.
The entire squad are said to be willing to club together to keep the staff members, who are seen as a vital part of Portsmouth’s push to reach their second FA Cup final in three seasons, in work – at least until the summer.
The players and their representatives are now trying to work around the tricky legal statutes in place regarding any such payments.
Now don’t get me wrong. I think it’s a noble gesture from the Pompey squad, but I’m not sure it could logistically happen as there will surely be various red tape technicalities in the way, e.g. wouldn’t the players have to form a company to pay wages to staff – as taxes and National Insurance would surely still apply?
Anyway, it’s a heart-felt gesture from the Portsmouth playing staff and here’s hoping that any legal issues can be bypassed – for the sake of the selected staff member’s short-term livelihoods.