Fair pay plea to soccer scrooges

Sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe yesterday attacked football’s giants for paying their staff peanuts — while their top players earn millions.

Mr Sutcliffe threw his weight behind a campaign to persuade all Premiership clubs to pay little-noticed but crucial workers — such as cleaners, caterers and security guards — the living wage of £6.80 an hour.

It follows an investigation which found that all the top-tier clubs are paying many staff only the legal minimum of £5.73 for over-21s.

Meanwhile, some Premiership stars are pocketing around £100,000 every week.

Mr Sutcliffe said: “It is inappropriate that there is such a huge gap between high-earners and low-earners when all staff are trying to do the same thing and make the club successful.

“It is only right, in the current economic conditions, that the clubs take a look at the wages they pay they staff and that’s why I am supporting this campaign.

“The Premier League is the most successful league in the world and it should be trying to act as a model for everybody else.”

The Fair Pay Network, has compiled an alternative Premier League, based on the enthusiasm the clubs have shown for tackling low pay. It places Manchester City in 6th place and United in 9th.