Adelaide United’s Bruce Djite says it’s impossible to know what A-League will look like once coronavirus pandemic ends
Adelaide United boss Bruce Djite says the uncertainty surrounding the A-League during the COVID-19 crisis means it’s incredibly difficult to predict what the future holds for the Reds.
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Adelaide United football director Bruce Djite says he’s working through ways of guiding the club through its most difficult period after 80 per cent of workers were stood down on Wednesday.
Djite said it was easily the toughest time he’d faced in his role and stressed that the playing group would be fully paid until the end of March.
“They’re going to receive all of March’s wages,’’ Djite said on SEN SA Breakfast.
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“We pay a month in arrears, so on April 15 they (the players) will get a payment for the remainder of march, they won’t get paid for the first half of April.”
Djite said the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic made the task even more difficult.
“Certainly one of my tougher days, that for sure,’’ he said.
“There is a lot of anxiety, especially among the playing group, and having been a player so recently I really feel for them.
“The worst part of it all is the uncertainty.
“I’m making these calls and I can’t even tell them ‘don’t worry boys, we’re taking a hit now and then May or June or July well be back’; who knows?
“There’s a lot of anxious players. It’s a very difficult time.”
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Djite said the Reds had already put plans in motion to secure $750 a week for employees under the Federal Government jobkeeper scheme, which is designed to help businesses retain staff on their payrolls.
He added it was difficult to know just what the A-League would look like when it comes out the other side.
“Everyone is suffering. Football will start it again, what it looks like, what the A-League looks like, nobody knows,’’ Djite said.
“When life as we know it comes back to normal, Adelaide United will be there, whatever it looks like.”
Originally published as Adelaide United’s Bruce Djite says it’s impossible to know what A-League will look like once coronavirus pandemic ends