Ebbsfleet United players refused to warm-up prior to their match with Wrexham on Saturday, before going on to win the game 4-2.
It came as the players continued their ongoing row with owner Dr Abdulla Al-Humaidi, seeking assurances that they would get the wages for April.
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As fans entered the ground, they were greeted with sheets of paper on their seats, which stated the players’ position on the situation…
It read: “The players have been made aware of information given by both Dr Abdulla Al Humaidi and other positions of power employed by the football club that all players contracted will not be paid wages from April, over the summer months, as punishment for going public with the statement [sic] Kent online.
“The football club are also planning to put all players contracted for next season on the transfer list. The football club are contractually obliged to pay players until the end date of their current contracts.
“This could have devastating consequences for the players and their families, potentially loosing their family homes.
“There will be a document presented to the football club at 2pm this afternoon asking for a signature from the owner, Dr Abudulla Al Humaidi, to confirm to players that this will not happen.
“The players thank all fans for their continued support, the results and current league standing is a direct reflection of your passion to stand behind the players.”
what a welcome to the game today Ebbsfleet going under? pic.twitter.com/nS4Ec6xGkI
— London (@LondonLegs1) March 30, 2019
The club then tweeted at half time: “The Board of Directors have asked that supporters be informed that Dr Abdulla was presented with a document by the players before kick-off. He has signed this document to meet their requests to their satisfaction.”
The Board of Directors have asked that supporters be informed that Dr Abdulla was presented with a document by the players before kick-off. He has signed this document to meet their requests to their satisfaction.
— Ebbsfleet United FC (@EUFCofficial) March 30, 2019
A statement to Kent Online said: “Subject to the continued misleading statements of recent months giving the impression that the football club is financially secure, we can confirm as players we have only been paid on time once in the last 12 months.
“We are still outstanding our January’s salary that is now seven days late and running into the next calendar month.
“We as players are incredibly disappointed with the clubs continuation of releasing press statements that give an incorrect impression of the state of the football club. The football club were unable to make the players’ medical insurance premium, which they are contractually obliged to do.
“The football club consciously withheld this information from the players resulting in the players playing three matches in the national league without cover.
“This would have been catastrophic for any players that would have been unfortunate enough to suffer a serious injury, this could have resulted in the end of a player’s career. The players were made aware by their pension company that the football club had not made any contribution to their Government Work Place Pension since June 2018.
“It had come to light and confirmed that not only had the employer’s contribution not been paid but the players contribution hadn’t either.This had been deducted from their monthly salaries and withheld without their knowledge or authorisation.
“Over the period of the last 12 months the players and staff have achieved above and beyond the expectations of the club while battling the stress and emotion with little satisfactory explanation to why the finances haven’t been dealt with correctly.
“At no point has there been an apology to the players or their families for the undue stress and financial predicament the club has put the families in. Amidst all of the above struggles to players and their families the players have been incredibly professional in their approach to their job.
“They have always given 100% in matches for the fans who they thank for all their support.”
After learning of the situation at Ebbsfleet and reading of the club’s half time tweet, fans took to social media togive their reaction as well as praise how players/staff etc dealt with it all – find out what they had to say on the next page.
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