Ex-Werder Bremen official calls for players' salaries to be reduced

Willie Lemke, who for a long time held the position of director of the German Werder Bremen football club as well as the chair of the Supervisory Board, called for a new wage cut for the club's players.

"I can only support the club's management and say: Dear players, cooperate with the club! Nobody can be willing to see the club in a critical situation," Limke, 74, said in comments published in the Bild newspaper.

And German media had reported earlier that the comments of Frank Bauman, director of football at the club, in which he announced the discussion of reducing wages, were not welcomed by the players.

Werder Bremen had escaped relegation to the second division by winning the play-off round, and had suffered from financial problems.

Clemens Fritz, chairman of the club's professional affairs committee, said what was reported about players not accepting the matter was unfounded.

"There is no rejection or approval. There is an exchange (of ideas). The process takes some time. It should not be overinterpreted from the outside," Fritz explained.

"We must talk to the players and explain the situation to them," Lemke said. "A solution like the one that has been applied before can be used, a reduction of at least 10% and a delay of 10%, I personally see it as very reasonable."

Limke believes that if the players get too hard in negotiations with the club, this will harm their image as well.

He added, "I am sure that people will not fully understand the position of the players if they demand 100% of their salaries. This will not be a good discussion."

According to a statement by Werder Bremen, the club expects to lose about 30 million euros ($ 35.3 million) due to the emerging coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, and it is supposed to obtain a loan, for the first time in several years.

The club had also announced a savings plan in all respects, including player wages, during the spring period.

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