RSPL title sponsor will stay the distance – Stewart

Premier League Clubs Association (PLCA) vice-president, Carvel Stewart, says title sponsors Red Stripe are committed to seeing out the completion of the 2019-20 Premier League, which has been on hold since March 12 because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Following a virtual PLCA meeting on Monday, the PLCA said Red Stripe will honour their contract for the season. "They (sponsor) are committed to honouring the completion on the league, so once the ball rolls, money will roll also," Stewart told STAR Sports.

He said there will be financial repercussions because of the global pandemic, which has brought the world economy and trade to a standstill. But he says through it all, Red Stripe has stood with them and has given their full support.

Main sponsors

"We have incurred a lot of cost that we cannot cover until we complete (the league) and income comes in. But if the league is not completed, this money will not come in. That has nothing to do with the main sponsors, this is money we had negotiated for," he noted.

He added that the move to cut players' salaries by 50 per cent was a decision by the clubs to curtail expenses during the COVID-19 period, and that it had nothing to do with the sponsor and their commitments.

"Salaries to players are not the only expenses the clubs have and all those costs have to be budgeted and met. The sponsors have nothing to do with the cutting of the salaries," he stated.

Meanwhile, in the virtual meeting, the PLCA also took the decision to extend the postponement of the league until further notice, although they are hoping to recommence as early as next month. If that is not possible, they are willing to extend the season to July.