Brighton boss Graham Potter follows Howe in taking voluntary pay cut to help staff wages during coronavirus pandemic

BRIGHTON boss Graham Potter has followed Eddie Howe’s lead by taking a voluntary pay cut during the coronavirus crisis.

On Wednesday, Bournemouth chief Howe became the first Premier League manager to forgo a significant part of his wages.

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Now Potter has followed suit – along with Albion technical director Dan Ashworth and chief executive Paul Barber – by taking a “significant” salary cut for the next three months.

The trio originally made the offer to chairman Tony Bloom two weeks ago which was appreciated but rejected.

Yet now, following further talks in the last 24 hours between the quartet, it has been accepted to support Bloom’s “significant efforts to protect all jobs at our club and charity”, according to Barber.

In a note sent to staff, Barber said: “[This is] to help Tony to ensure none of our core staff suffer a wage reduction during this uncertain period for our business, Graham Potter, Dan Ashworth and I have voluntarily taken a pay reduction for the months of April, May and June.

“We consider ourselves to be very fortunate to be working for the best of clubs at the most difficult of times.

“So it is entirely appropriate that we play a very small part in reducing the financial burden on Tony.”

Newcastle were the first Premier League club to place their staff on furlough, a move that was swiftly followed by Tottenham.

Their decision has been met with huge criticism, with their staff to now be paid with taxpayer money, while the club continue to pay the wages of their star players.

David Lammy, Labour MP for Tottenham, tweeted: “It’s criminal that Premier League footballers haven’t moved more quickly to take pay cuts and deferrals.

“And completely wrong that taxpayers are now being asked to subsidise cleaners, caterers and security guards at these clubs instead.”