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E-mail received today from CDRA:
Dear Member
PAYMENTS STILL OUTSTANDING TO CARDIFF DEVILS’ PLAYERS!
The 2013-2014 season, as we all know, has been a particularly difficult one for Cardiff Devils’ fans for many reasons. The CDRA have worked with management to ensure that match night went smoothly and that fans have a mix of off- ice events which gave them the opportunity to meet up with players and have some fun. Things didn’t go too well on the ice and we were aware of a number of rumours that were circulating regarding the team and the Club. The ongoing rumours and fan protests culminated in February with the CDRA asking fans to submit their concerns to us and we would liaise with the Club for answers. One of the questions coming out of this exercise was:
CDRA Question: Can the Club assure fans that all players have been paid by the Club everything that they are owed for salary and any expenses for sticks, kit, skates, travel, etc, incurred?
Club Answer: Yes, and they always have been.I would like to meet any players who claim we have failed to meet our obligations financially, as I know of NONE!
We are now aware that this is not actually the case and as a result are withdrawing it from the Q&A statement we published in February. In reality, at that time there were many players that were owed money, some of it from pre-season for equipment, some of it for flights and some from actual salary. Sadly the players have been unable to speak up for fear of losing more money, their jobs or both and for fear of affecting their future employment. The CDRA would like to apologise to the players for issuing that statement as it must have been a very bitter pill for them to swallow knowing what the real situation was, we can assure them that at the time we acted on trust. We would also like to apologise to the fans as well for communicating inaccurate information.
We are now aware that players have been continually chasing the Club for payment throughout the ENTIRE season as the receipt money for visas, travel, etc, did not materialise in the first week of the season as promised. Some players were paid a month late, others 7 months or more late. Some players were CONTINUALLY paid salary beyond the contractual payment date of the last day of the month - often resulting in players playing games without being paid all/some of the previous months wages (as they are paid in arrears). Players often had to borrow money to meet their own commitments due to the late payment of wages and we are aware that at least one player in particular gave his own money where some players were suffering hardship.
As a supporters club, the role of the CDRA is to support the team on and off the ice, working with the Club to ensure that the team have the best possible chance of securing success for the Club and the supporters. We don’t believe that the situation regarding non/late payment of monies due is the way to secure this success or indeed the way to treat people properly. We feel that we have no alternative but to act in support of the players and for the future of the Cardiff Devils. As a result we have withdrawn our support from the Club until such time that all debts to players have been settled, we also want to find some way of raising the money to pay the players ourselves. This, as we know, is not an ideal situation and we would very much like the Club to fulfil its obligations to the players, however, if we maintained this stance it may be at the expense of players not receiving what they are owed and we are not prepared for this to happen.
During the past few weeks we have asked the Club to justify the reasons for withholding the money and none have been forthcoming, we have asked them to make the payments and still sadly some remain outstanding. It is not action we want to take but we feel strongly that we have little option if we are here to support Cardiff Devils players.
The reputation of Cardiff Devils is at stake and we are determined that players will not be let down by everyone involved and that the well renowned passion of the fan base will once again show how much they care about the players. If, having raised the money and paid the players, the Club pay what they are obliged to, we will donate the money to a nominated charity to ensure that it goes to another worthy cause.
We don’t want this to turn into another social media war in which only words and bad feeling are the outcome, the situation isn’t good but we can help to turn it around. Please feel free to let us know if you have ideas for fundraising or any other information you may feel will help by emailing: committee@cardiffdevilsredarmy.co.uk To make a donation please send cheques made payable to “Cardiff Devils Red Army” to Katrina Williams, 60 Guenever Close, Thornhill, Cardiff, CF14 9AH
Lisa Guildford
For and on behalf of Cardiff Devils Red Army (CDRA)
PAYMENTS STILL OUTSTANDING TO CARDIFF DEVILS’ PLAYERS!
The 2013-2014 season, as we all know, has been a particularly difficult one for Cardiff Devils’ fans for many reasons. The CDRA have worked with management to ensure that match night went smoothly and that fans have a mix of off- ice events which gave them the opportunity to meet up with players and have some fun. Things didn’t go too well on the ice and we were aware of a number of rumours that were circulating regarding the team and the Club. The ongoing rumours and fan protests culminated in February with the CDRA asking fans to submit their concerns to us and we would liaise with the Club for answers. One of the questions coming out of this exercise was:
CDRA Question: Can the Club assure fans that all players have been paid by the Club everything that they are owed for salary and any expenses for sticks, kit, skates, travel, etc, incurred?
Club Answer: Yes, and they always have been.I would like to meet any players who claim we have failed to meet our obligations financially, as I know of NONE!
We are now aware that this is not actually the case and as a result are withdrawing it from the Q&A statement we published in February. In reality, at that time there were many players that were owed money, some of it from pre-season for equipment, some of it for flights and some from actual salary. Sadly the players have been unable to speak up for fear of losing more money, their jobs or both and for fear of affecting their future employment. The CDRA would like to apologise to the players for issuing that statement as it must have been a very bitter pill for them to swallow knowing what the real situation was, we can assure them that at the time we acted on trust. We would also like to apologise to the fans as well for communicating inaccurate information.
We are now aware that players have been continually chasing the Club for payment throughout the ENTIRE season as the receipt money for visas, travel, etc, did not materialise in the first week of the season as promised. Some players were paid a month late, others 7 months or more late. Some players were CONTINUALLY paid salary beyond the contractual payment date of the last day of the month - often resulting in players playing games without being paid all/some of the previous months wages (as they are paid in arrears). Players often had to borrow money to meet their own commitments due to the late payment of wages and we are aware that at least one player in particular gave his own money where some players were suffering hardship.
As a supporters club, the role of the CDRA is to support the team on and off the ice, working with the Club to ensure that the team have the best possible chance of securing success for the Club and the supporters. We don’t believe that the situation regarding non/late payment of monies due is the way to secure this success or indeed the way to treat people properly. We feel that we have no alternative but to act in support of the players and for the future of the Cardiff Devils. As a result we have withdrawn our support from the Club until such time that all debts to players have been settled, we also want to find some way of raising the money to pay the players ourselves. This, as we know, is not an ideal situation and we would very much like the Club to fulfil its obligations to the players, however, if we maintained this stance it may be at the expense of players not receiving what they are owed and we are not prepared for this to happen.
During the past few weeks we have asked the Club to justify the reasons for withholding the money and none have been forthcoming, we have asked them to make the payments and still sadly some remain outstanding. It is not action we want to take but we feel strongly that we have little option if we are here to support Cardiff Devils players.
The reputation of Cardiff Devils is at stake and we are determined that players will not be let down by everyone involved and that the well renowned passion of the fan base will once again show how much they care about the players. If, having raised the money and paid the players, the Club pay what they are obliged to, we will donate the money to a nominated charity to ensure that it goes to another worthy cause.
We don’t want this to turn into another social media war in which only words and bad feeling are the outcome, the situation isn’t good but we can help to turn it around. Please feel free to let us know if you have ideas for fundraising or any other information you may feel will help by emailing: committee@cardiffdevilsredarmy.co.uk To make a donation please send cheques made payable to “Cardiff Devils Red Army” to Katrina Williams, 60 Guenever Close, Thornhill, Cardiff, CF14 9AH
Lisa Guildford
For and on behalf of Cardiff Devils Red Army (CDRA)
WD
