Wakefield Trinity agree salary cuts with 30 of their 33 players ahead of return to training as season ticket holders offer fine gesture

Only three players, from a squad of 33, are yet to agree on wage reductions which will see the squad's take-home wages, on average, reduced by 11.3 per cent.

Trinity chief executive Michael Carter also revealed that only 33 season ticket holders, so far, have indicated that they will seek a refund for the games they will not be able to attend.

Wakefield played two home matches in league competition this year, before Super League was suspended in mid-March.

Discussions on salary cuts have been ongoing for the past few weeks and Carter praised captain Jacob Miller and the squad's leadership group for their assistance in resolving the issue.

"I would like to pay tribute to captain Jacob Miller and his fellow leadership group for their understanding at a time when club finances are still unstable," said Carter.

"On the back of the Government Job Retention Scheme, and also the fantastic reaction from our season ticket members, where just 33 people have indicated that they would seek a refund, I was able to put a revised scheme together that enhanced the players' salaries, and protected completely the younger members of the squad.

"The vast majority of the squad have accepted this and there will be further reviews in September should circumstances change further.

"This now means that the average net monthly salary reduction is 16.3 per cent across the squad, and the net annual reduction will be 11.3 per cent of take home pay.

"I’d like to thank the players that have accepted and look forward to a return to training on Monday."

Liam Kay joined Wakefield on loan last week in a deal which head coach Chris Chester revealed cost the club "nothing" and Carter insists signings will only be made on a "cost-neutral" basis.

He continued: "I’d also like to add that I have been in constant dialogue with the captain about the new players that we have brought to the club for this season.

"He understands that in no way have these signings had a detrimental effect to the cuts that players and staff have had to take.

"Through a mixture of self-financing, sponsorship and the furlough scheme, we have managed to bring players in on a cost-neutral basis, and the captain was very understanding of this.

"I want to re-iterate that we are not increasing the cost base of the club whilst asking players and staff to take salary cuts.

"Let us all now concentrate on getting the season back up and running, and look forward to a time when we can have supporters back in the stadium.

"We all want to enjoy an exciting 2020 and 2021 season, after everything that everybody has been through."