April 29, 2020 2.55 pm This story is over 46 months old

Imps place first team and academy players on furlough

A small number of team members continue to work from home

Lincoln City FC has confirmed that its first team and academy players have been placed on furlough leave due to the coronavirus crisis.

As previously reported, the League One club had already placed the majority of its non-playing staff on furlough leave under the terms of the government’s coronavirus job retention scheme.

The players have now also been placed on furlough leave, although a small number of team members, including manager Michael Appleton, continue to work from home as the “club’s priority remains the health and wellbeing of its players, staff, supporters and local community.”

The club said the latest decision has been made in order to “protect the long-term financial viability of the club in what are unprecedented times.”

The decision was aligned within the framework recently agreed by the EFL and the PFA (Professional Footballers Association).

A number of weeks ago, the FA, Premier League and the EFL announced they would be collectively postponing their competitions until such time that it was safe for them to resume.

No date has been officially announced for any return to football and last week the EFL said: “The position of the EFL remains unchanged in that the priority is to resume the 2019/20 season as soon as it is possible with matches only returning at an appropriate point and based on guidance from the relevant authorities. The health and wellbeing of the nation has to come first.

“However, it is also our view that a successful return to playing in this country can only come about through a continued collaborative approach with all stakeholders, including the Premier League and Football Association, in order for important issues to be aligned such as, but not limited to, scheduling of fixtures, promotion, relegation and the opening and closing of transfer windows. This work has been ongoing for some time and will continue in the weeks ahead.”