- Everton have stopped players from adding release clauses to their contracts
- The Toffees are looking to avoid the financial consequences of relegation
- We never thought it would be ‘warrior’ Bruno Fernandes but where would Man United be without their captain? Listen to the It’s All Kicking Off podcast
Everton have moved to protect themselves against some of the financial consequences of relegation by inserting mandatory wage cuts into recently negotiated player contracts and denying release clauses to their most sought-after stars.
Jarrad Branthwaite and Jordan Pickford do not have release clauses, which will enable Everton to auction them off to the highest bidder if they are relegated, while the majority of players who remain will be forced to take pay cuts.
Pickford does not have a mandatory wage-cut clause in the deal he signed last season as Everton reasoned their goalkeeper would demand a transfer if they went down.
Everton have moved to protect themselves against some of the financial consequences of relegation, inserting mandatory wage cuts into recently negotiated player contracts
Jordan Pickford (left) and Jarrad Branthwaite do not have release clauses in their contracts
Pickford does not have a mandatory wage-cut clause in the deal he signed last season
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Football fixture list stretching to breaking point
The Championship play-off final could be put back a week due to a potential clash with the FA Cup final in the latest sign of a fixture list stretched to breaking point.
Leicester and Coventry could feature in both occasions at Wembley, which at present are scheduled to take place on successive days on the weekend of May 25-26, as both Championship clubs booked their place in the FA Cup quarter-finals this week on top of their involvement in the promotion race.
Mail Sport has learned the EFL have secured June 2 at Wembley as a contingency date in the event of a clash.
Chelsea’s VIP guest list
The political clout of Chelsea’s new owners was shown by their guest list for the Carabao Cup final. It included John Kerry, who is serving as Joe Biden’s Special Presidential Envoy for Climate.
Kerry was a guest of Chelsea’s co-owner Behdad Eghbali, with Wembley’s hospitality suites full of politicians.
As a former US presidential candidate who narrowly lost to George W Bush in 2004 before being appointed Secretary of State by his successor, Barack Obama, Kerry can claim to have had a more distinguished career than two fellow Wembley guests — London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer.
The Championship play-off final could be put back a week due to a potential clash with the FA Cup final
John Kerry (left) was a special guest of Chelsea’s co-owner Behdad Eghbali (right) at the Carabao Cup final on Sunday
The PGMOL are planning to strengthen their staffing levels at their Stockley Park VAR hub
PGMOL plan Stockley Park recruitment drive
Refereeing body PGMOL are planning to strengthen staffing levels at their Stockley Park VAR hub next season by appointing a new operations executive to provide support to refs and video assistants.
PGMOL are likely to replace VAR coach Phil Bentham, who has returned to rugby league.
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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk