Liverpool reverse furlough decision and apologise to fans

Club had been heavily criticised after announcing they were going to apply to the government's taxpayer-funded job retention scheme

Liverpool became the fifth team – after Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Bournemouth and Norwich City – to furlough non-playing staff. AFP

Liverpool have decided to reverse their decision to place some non-playing staff on temporary leave and issued an apology to supporters.

The club had been heavily criticised after announcing on Saturday that they were going to apply to the government's taxpayer-funded job retention scheme.

But in a letter to the club's fans, chief executive Peter Moore said: "We believe we came to the wrong conclusion last week ... and are truly sorry for that.

"Our intentions were, and still are, to ensure the entire workforce is given as much protection as possible from redundancy and/or loss of earnings during this unprecedented period.

"We are therefore committed to finding alternative ways to operate while there are no football matches being played that ensures we are not applying for the government relief scheme."

Liverpool became the fifth team – after Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Bournemouth and Norwich City – to furlough non-playing staff with the season suspended indefinitely because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Moore, though, also warned of the financial consequences the club faces, as a result of the current crisis.

He added: "But in the spirit of transparency we must also be clear, despite the fact we were in a healthy position prior to this crisis, our revenues have been shut off yet our outgoings remain. And like almost every sector of society, there is great uncertainty and concern over our present and future.

"Like any responsible employer concerned for its workers in the current situation, the club continues to prepare for a range of different scenarios, around when football can return to operating as it did before the pandemic.

"These scenarios range from best case to worst, and everything in between.

"It is an unavoidable truth that several of these scenarios involve a massive downturn in revenue, with correspondingly unprecedented operating losses.

"Having these vital financial resources so profoundly impacted would obviously negatively affect our ability to operate as we previously have."

"We are engaged in the process of exploring all avenues within our scope to limit the inevitable damage."