Martin Cranie says that Hatters stars want to help the club survive the Coronavirus shutdown and are awaiting the outcome of discussions over wages between the Professional Footballers’ Association and the EFL.
It has been a month since Town last played with a return to action now uncertain after the professional leagues all agreed to extend the season indefinitely as society struggles to contain the Covid-19 pandemic.
Last week, Luton took the step of announcing they will have to furlough staff to help navigate a period of unknown length where they are generating no income.
However, though chief executive Gary Sweet has previously said pay-cuts for players across football were on the cards, there was no decision made on the wages of Hatters players, pending the outcome of ongoing discussions between the league and the players’ union.
Defender Cranie said: “We know there’s been meetings going on between the PFA and the EFL. It’s whether they can come to some sort of agreement which is suitable to everyone, because all the lads are in different stages and will be on different contracts, so it’s not going to be the same for everyone.
“It needs to be something agreeable that works for everyone, but I think at the same time, all the lads want to help out in some way to keep the club going, no-one wants to see people out of work or the club going under, so that’s not the problem, it’s just getting to a point where it can be agreed that it can help everybody.”
In announcing they are to use the furlough scheme – which will see the government pay 80 per cent of staff members’ wages – Town have said they will be transparent about the number of staff this will apply to.
“That’s the worst thing about it all, the people who are losing money, losing jobs – it’s just not a nice situation for anyone and you don’t want to see it happen to anyone,” said the 33-year-old.
“There is a big thing about wages and things at the minute, and as I as saying before, there has been no agreement made on how we can help, but all the lads do want to help. It’s just getting to the place where it can be acceptable for everyone and we can do our bit for the club as well.”
The last week has seen Health Secretary Matt Hancock say in the daily government Coronavirus press conference that Premier League football should take pay cuts to help amid the crisis.
England’s record goalscorer Wayne Rooney and Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker were just two of the high-profile personalities to hit back at the Conservative minister for singling out just footballers.
Cranie, who helped Sheffield United win promotion to the top-flight before joining Town in the summer, said: “I think it was quite harsh that they came out and singled out an individual group of players, rather than just sportsmen or people who are wealthy in general.
“It seemed to get directed at one group of players which I didn’t think is really fair when they don’t know what’s going on in the background.
“The players could be doing stuff personally, putting stuff together that no-one knows about, so I think it was quite unfair that it was directed straight at them.
“I’m sure the Premier League clubs are all doing stuff to help out.”
Last month, Hatters chief Sweet said it was a necessity for the top-flight to dip into its £1.5billion cash reserves to help out clubs lower down the football period, many of whom, he says, could “go to the wall” over the Coronavirus shutdown.
The Premier League last week announced it is to advance £125million worth of future money owed to the EFL and the National League, in the shape of solidarity payments, parachute payments and Academy Grants, to help clubs struggling financially.
